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V 







ALISO AND ACNE. 



BY 



JAMES A. WICKERSHAM. 



PUBLISHED BY 

BRENTANO'S LITERARY EMPORIUM, 
5 Union Square, 

NEW YORK. 




/BS/) 



gn^ 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, 
By James A. Wickersham, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. CI 
All rights reserved. 



DRAMATIS PERSON M. 



A.LSELDO. a rich Islander. 

A Captain and two Mates. 

Aliso, Prince of Greece. 

Neptune, the Ocean-God ; also Sailor, 

Dwarf and Priest. 
Acne, a Water-Nymph, and daughter 

of Alseldo. 

Hylas, a Country Lad. 

Ariel, ^ spirits of Air, Earth and 

'«^"^^' r Sea. 
'Thaliel, ' 

Puck and the Fairies. 

Scene: First on Mount Olympus ; after 

on an Island ; last on Mount 



Jupiter, with Gods and Goddesses. 

Two Workmen. 

A Gypsy Woman and Girl. 

Hymen, the God of Marriage. 

Hkcatk, an Apparition. 

Nymphs, Naiads. Nereids, I Water 
River Gods. ' Sprites, 

Elves, Dwarfs, Gnomes, I Earth's 
Smiths. ' Sprites. 

Stone Quarriers, Reapers, Pruners, 
Sailors, Servants, and a Messen- 
ger. 

•wards in a Ship'' s Cabin at Sea ; then 
Olymxms. 



AL[SO AND ACNE. 



ACT I. 

Scene I. On Mount Olympm^. Day. The Assembly of the 
Gods. Neptune rises. 

Neptune. Most mighty Jupiter ! 

Jupiter. Pass him the sceptre, he is about to speak. 

Neptune. Nay, lofty brother, not so serious; I have a play 
devised, that needs your aid. 

Jupiter. A play ! what is more serious than a play ? this 
brings you from your bed, where you are wont to lie on 
sunny days, when nothing but wind, rain, moon, or storm, 
can make you climb the rocky way; what is't and by my 
forehead clouds, I'll help you in it ? 

Neptune. I propose to build an island. 

Jupiter. The project worthies its projector. 

Neptune. And to destroy it. 

Jupiter. What, hey ! so soon ? 

Neptune. Hear me : I would beget, grow, and endow, an 
island, to be a bait to lure the world of men; when this is 
done, I'U set it on a spring and so arrange it, that the foot 
of a marked year shall trip it u]) and send it up to heaven, 
to fall down in the sea again and vanish 

Jupiter. Is this all ? 

Neptune. Not all; the people, — you forget the men and 
women; — will it be no fun to see them go under ? 

Jupiter. Good ! shall they all go down ? 

Neptune. That's it; I'll leave one scapeway. 



6 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

Jupiter. For them all ? 

Nejytune. You p^o too fast, p^reat clond-<]^atherer, and steal 
the spawn of my paiiiculars, before the fish are hatched. 

Jupiter. Great rolUng Nej^tune, 3'ou need no rock securi- 
ty, that you can eng-ender a good play; speak the aid that 
you would have. 

Neptune. Give me your clouds, and wind, and storm; bid 
Iris obey me; send Ceres with her daughter, to swell my 
island with ripeness; give me S2:)riies, invisible messengers, 
whate'er I need in the hot boiling of a surging play; send 
Themis, Yenus, Cupid, and Minerva's owl, to take a p;u-t, 
and trust me for the rest. 

Jupiter. I like thy words; thou speakest as one who had 
shook oif sleep. Go on; forget us not at the last scene, and 
crowd into it the gist of all thy argument. It likes me this, 
we will await th' event. [Exit Neptune']. 'Tis a good 
thought, capital; daughters, trig up in Avorkday dress, and 
help him; take hold with unghwed fingers, and be ready at 
he last. [Exeunt. 

Scene II. Night The Interior of a Vessel at Sea. Without, 
a Storm. 

Enter Captain, Mates, and Sailors, with Aliso. * 

Captain. Out with him; put him overboard; give him to the 
winds. 

Aliso. Will no one have mercy? Lt)ok! the lightning is 
trying to set the sea on fire, and burn it dry; good mercy, 
gentlemen, set me not out in this storm. 

Captain. Ask the waves for pit}', and spare your breath to 
howl with them. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 7 

Alii^o. Good shipmen, if there be any way to move your 
heai'ts, tell me, and I will move them: hear the winds cry 
destruction; the waves flap against the ship with open jaws 
to mangle and swallow me; and the thunder is as though it 
had changed the hollow of the sea to drums, to beat fierce 
sounds of death; will you cast me out in this? 

Captain. Methinks he speaks it well, hey ? 

First Mafe. Good ; as good as his dress. 

Captain. We'll take both from him, dress and speech; off 
with his clothes; the dress will stay by the ship, the good 
words may beg of the storm, and the fine body Nep may 
dispose of as he pleases. 

First Mate, Shall he be lowered stripped ? 

Captain. Give him a rag. 

Aliso. Once more I beg your mercy: send me not out, 
naked, into this fearful blackness; let the pitiless sea and 
wind teach you pity. 

Captain. Over with him. 

Ali><o. Flint-hearted men, why spoil my own manliness in 
beseeching you? Better the wind, the sea, the rocks, than 
your case-hardened hearts; let me down, and quickly; but 
turn you an ear, and hsten to the winds; they howl your 
death; the waves that break over the deck are trying to lock 
their arms around you; vengeance will follow you for this 
night, and brine and air whip at you, to lash you down; 
breakers, reefs and hidden rocks consort with the angry 
waves to let you fall against them ; whirlpools and maelstroms 
suck at you to draw you down; nor secret fires of earth will 
sleep, nor continents, nor islands keep their quiet places 
while you in safety roam; some of these will bring you to de- 
struction, if there be justice in heaven. 

Captain. Ha, ha! a good pleader: now your mercy, and 
pity, and compassion; now your fear, and vengeance, and de- 



8 ALISO AND ACNE: 

struction; enough, the ship's cranky; I'm tired of this learn- 
ing; get hiiQ over, and have it off our luinds; out with hun 

[Exit. 

Fird Male. Come. 

Enter Neptune os an old Sailor. 

Neptune. Go quietly, and quickly; take this coat for a 
cover; trust the winds, and be not afi*aid. 

[They put him overboard and exeunt. 

Scene III. On the Idand, ivithin the Gave of Neptttne. 

Enter Neptune from the sea. 

Neptune. They have the lazier game, that on the mountains 
Lie, and sun themselves; here I'm skin wet; 
A many leagued swim, that tired my legs ! 
Fve landed them, and here will wait results. 
Here take my breath. A delicate resting jDlace ! 
I scent salt-water still, but here's a spring, 
A brook, — the nymph shall keep me company. 
This is my tavern, I will rest, and use it. 
Yet I'm afraid of Puck : his tricks at night 
Make a sea-dweller long for home ; I'll bar 
My trident in the door, to keep him out. 
Here am I, Neptune, turned into a playwright, 
To please the Olympians; but more myself. 
This is my is'.and, when the sun comes up I'll see it. 
Now have I borrowed old Proteus' shapes, 
And shall befriend me with them as I can. 
Had I aiTived an hour earlier, 
I would have waked the nymph, to ward off Puck. 

[Sleeps. 



ALI80 AND ACNE, 



Enter Puck. 



Puck. Now is my choring done : the mares' tails knotted, 
Long stirrups braided in their flowing manes, 
To bend the curry comb, and fire the groom ; 
I've visited the housewife's gathering butter, 
Loosed the dasher's handle, skimmed the milk, 
And clabbered the sweet morning-pan; — and soured 
The vinegar's pale mother; alas the work. 
That Puck has on a stormy night !— and choked 
The cheeping unhatched chickens in their sheUs; 
Now will I rest, and wait my laughs to-morrow. 
Heigh, ho ! what, who is here ? great watery Neptune 
Asleep ! heigh ! quick, the fairies ! quick, I'U fly : 
Over brier, bush, and thorn, 
Will I fly, and toot my horn; 
Wild, a hunting hound, I'U yelp. 
Calling out the elves for help ; 
TroUs, that guard the quagmire's light, 
Wick the foxfire's flame at night; 
Those that punch the firefly's side, 
To make him spread his wings awide, 
All shall come at my command, 
"Neptune, Neptune's come to land;" 
In a minute I'll be back, 
Leading on the fauy pack. [^ExU. 

Re-enter Puck, leading the fairies. 

Puck. Here we are, now sist, be quiet: 
Go on tip-toe in our riot. 
Nej^tune, Neptune's come ashore, 
See him lie, and hear him snore. 
Where begin to fast and fix him ? 



10 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

How bewitch, betroll, benix him ? 

Wing-toed elves, that shame the wind, 

Hist, and hark, my mandates mind : 

Fan his hair, and dry and twist it, 

Cautious lest he should resist it, 

Kink and curl it into Strang, 

Like stout ropes of sea-weed tang; 

Now fill up his ears with pother; 

Get tickle-grass, his nose to bother; 

Start the fox-tails up his breeches. 

That will give delicious itches; 

Sist, he wakens, quick, be gone; 

Out the lights, come on, come on, 

Back to thicket, bush, and thorn. 

There to lie and laugh, till morn. [Exeunt 

Neptune l^awakening^. The mischief-maker has been here, 

and gone; 
Haste, Phoebus, haste, and drive thy car around. 
How shall I while the night until the morn ? 
I'll wake the nymph; she shall come out to me, 
And aid me in my play : Nymphie ! Nymphie ! 
Hey, come ! I call thee ; come ! I, Neptune, call. 
What words will charm her forth ? I'll sing them to her 
On a mussel sheU: 

Heigh, pouched cheek and mussel shell 

Make the merriest rousing beU, 
With limber tongue ; 

On the sides, rose, pink, and pearl, 

Lining man}" a celly whorl, 
My words are rung. 

She comes, she comes, my words awake her; 

AVhere she sleeps my tones o'er take her; 
Come ! come ! come ! 



ALISO AND ACNE. ' 11 

Enter Nymph. 

Nymph. What words are these ? I hear you, father Nep- 
tune. 
This is unseasonable; you keep no hours, 
But chase th' unsteady moon, and you yourself 
Are still unsteadier. 

Neptune. Sweet-water nyinph, 

It might become you to be sweet in taste, 
As well as name. I have a play devised; 
Come will you play it '? 

Nymph. O, moon-struck Neptune, I ! 

Here, in my mossy rock-walled chamber, I, 
Night, day, and month, an4 changing seasons, stay. 
With Nymph — cave — kitchen — cares o'er heaped alway: 
My spouting faucets and my fountains high, 
In lack of care soon shrivel and run dry ; 
My carpets, floors, and seats, and hanging screen, 
Kept off their sprinklings, fade, and lose their green; 
Engrossed with duties, such as these, I pray, 
What can I know, a simple nymph, of play ? 

Neptune. I'll teach thee; and to stir desire on, 
TeU thee its worth : 'twill so pervade thy soul, 
That henceforth e'en the sun will seem to thee 
More loveful than thy spring. 

Nymph. Impossible ! 

Neptune. Thou wilt desire to stay and play it ever. 

Nymph. Not I, not I. 

Neptune. To-morrow it begins. 

Nymph. Why, if you will I heed you willingly; 
But tell me what it is. 

Neptune. Sit here by me; — 

Yovi heard the storm ? 

Nymph. I did, and never saw, 



13 ALTSO AND ACNE. 

Nor heard a mightier one : from where I stood, 
It seemed rebellion in the waves conspired 
AVitli darkness, to tear down the heavens; and tire, 
The heaven's guard, shot volleys at their heads. 
To diive them back. 

Neptune. This was my stoiin 

Nijmph. ^^'hy is it, 

Thus you break soft peace 's^'ith storms ? 
Have you no thought, or cai-e, of wandering men, 
Who might exposed be to your tiery play. 
To whom yoiu* pastime would be fateful death? 
Briny Neptune, you lu-e my opposite : 
You lure men on to contidence and trust, 
And then you laugh, while you destroy them; 
I change no giument through the changing years, 
But add a sprig of green in Summer time. 
And I to man am ever kind and constant. 

Neptune. Now hear me ; in this storm there was a ship, 
A brutal captain, and a robber crew; 
And one else; this one they cast away. 

Nymph. O, death! in such a night! 

Neptuue. No hair of him 

Was hai-med; I bore him SJife, and landed him; 
The ship I racked and seamed and tore in cracks. 
Till many a sieve is much sea worthier; 
The company I've landed on this island. 
Where lives one rich Alseldo; to him they've gone; 
You shall become a maid ^N-itli human hetu-t. 
As weU as human form, and pure as water ; 
You mark my words ? 

Nymph. They send cold shivers thi'ough me. 

Once heju'd I speiik of heai-ts, of humim heai-ts : 
'Twas on a Summer day; I lay soft couched 



ALISO AND ACNE. 18 

Upon a iiiosay shelf, beneath the cover 

^Spread, Hnrht-quilted, on my sprin«;; 'twas cool, 

Without, 'twas warm; and lyinjj^ thus, I heard 

A voice, and lookin<if up, I saw a face, 

Bent down, with eyes that pierced my soul; 

I felt a hot breath on my cheek, and shook 

And shivered, and lay still; and thus it spoke: 

'' Dear Spring, O, would my heart were made like youl 

You lie so cool and still, and if I touch you. 

See your waves soon die, and you are still ap^ain; 

Or do I stir in you a cloudy rile, 

A moment and you ai'e as clear as ever; 

Winter and Summer you remain the same, 

Though all around you changes; would my heart 

Were so! that, touched, retains each impress made; 

That holds each raised cloud, to float forever; 

That boils now, and now freezes; melts and heats; 

Dear, constant, cold, clear. Spring, I would thou wert 

The image of my heai-t," and then I felt 

Hot tears fall on my face; the ripples rose, 

And shut away the sight, and when I looked 

Again, the face was gone. O, give me not, 

Whatever part I play, a hiunan heart. 

Neptune. I'll grant thee this: a constant memory 
Of what thou now ai't; then, if at any time 
Thou come to me, and cry " I would return," 
Thou shalt that moment a spring maiden be. 

Nymph. With this I am content. 

Neptune. To this Alseldo 

You shall go ; on him 111 throw a charm, 
To make you in his sight, his daughter; 
There shall you be both nymph and child together, 
And what more shall the growing play decide. 



14 ALI80 AND AGNK 

Here will I sta}^ and watch your cave and fountain, 

"When the thick, gathering pla^^ shall grow^ 

And darken, choke and sultry your new heart, 

Come back to me, and I will set you fi^ee. 

Meanwhile the naiads, sprits, saucy elves, 

Both black and white, shall keep me company, 

And sing and dance, and play me what I \d\\y 

Ul^on the moment of monotony; 

Bring messages, deceive and lure the players; 

And they shall do't, to keep off Puck, or else 

I might sleep through the acts; now go, begone; 

Remember Nej^tune, when heart storms come on. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene IY. By the Nymph's Grotto. Morning. Acne seated. 
Enter Alseldo and Captain. 

Alseldo. Was your shij) much racked ? 

Captain. Torn into giblets; 

To caulk is to level and smooth down 
An island, cracked with earthquakes. 

Alseldo. This is the better. 

The longer is your stay; I shall be glad 
Of your misfortune, that gives me chance to light it, 
By showing you my island; the earth is wide, 
And spread with goodly fields, but this one spot 
Will meet your traveled eye's most fair approval. 

Captain. What small appreciation I can show, 
A water sailing man, that sees the shore 
As good to grow pine trees for tar and pitch, 
And salad for our fish, that you shall have. 
Is this your daughter ? 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 15 

Alseldt}. The same ; slie loves the water 

IMore than any salt; thus occupied 
She's been since gii'lhood, gazing in the sea; 
A most strange fancy seems to follow her; 
We've marked it since her childhood: she used to play 
About a spring : with willow rods, and leaves 
Of sjDreading dock, there would she build her shades, 
And lie in them, and say she was the water's nymph; 
And call the water lilies her dear sisters; 
Since she's older grown, she walks the shore, 
And looks out on the sea, and talks of storms, 
And waves and sunshine, and we call her nymph. 
To show her water character; see her; 
This is her day's delight; let us go near. 

Captain. She'll lose this when she loves. 

Alseldo. So have I hoped; 

But she is cold as summer springs; nothing 
Can warm her; not even ni}' affection, 
Which she returns, not as a loving child. 
But willingly obeys my charges only. 

Captain. By're Nep, she's trig and trim; what say you 
sir? 
I'd have a wife; with your consent I'll woo her. 

Alseldo. Worthy captain, I would call you son; 
And in your wooing promise you such aid. 
As time, or place, or meeting, or occasion. 
Lend, together with remove of obstacles, 
That may oppose; put on your gallantries. 
You know your theme, a watery one, and win her; 
Go now and make beginning; I'll soon return. 
To show you round the island. [Exit. 

Captain. [Approaching her] . Sweet miss, I love thee. 
Dear duck, look round at me, I'll be thy sea. 



16 ALISO AND A CNE. 

Thy pond, thy lily fair, — 

Nymph. [Looking round] . My mud puddle. 
And my stagnant water, my bull-frog and my, — 

Captain. Hey ! ducky dear, thy father wills it so ^ 
That I be made thy pool, thou swim in me. 
And both be called his pond, his son and daughter. 
Why do you stare at me? 

Nymph. Good rushy captain. 

Take you this flower, and bear it to the water; 
Don't squeeze it, do not wet it, lay it down 
To float upon the waves. 

Captain. This will I do. 

Though I'm a land wabbler; there it's done. 

Nymyh. Willows and alders shade the sjjeckled trout;. 
The elm tree cannot say it shall not be. 

Captain. I never learned your land birds. 

Nymph. Tell me, my captain, 

If you love me, how much ? 

Captain. More than a salmon 

Stewed with vinegar; more than a wind 
From aft; than Greek wine, or a Turkish pipe; 
More than a yarn at twilight; I love thee more — 
Why, onions to scurvy, salt to smelling meat, 
Brine to the shmy deck, these are to me thy love. 

Nymph. Were you not in the storm ? 

Captain. Fail- dear, why this ? 

Nymph. I would know of the storm, of last night's stormy, 
How was it on the sea ? 

Cap)tain. 'Twas Avild; I lay 

And drank my wine, and cursed it. 

Nymph . [ Turning away] . Once I lay, — 

Captain. Sweet chick, — 

Nymph. Where willows grew, — 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 17 

Captain. Look round, — 

Nymyh. And there, — 

Enter Alseldo. 

Captain. Now will I leave you; yonder is your father; 
But soon your tune shall change from willow brook, 
To sighs and tears of love ; I'll have you. 

[Exeunt Captain and Aheldo^ 

Enter Aliso. 

Aliso. What do I see ? O, shame ! in this attire 
I dare not go; yet must I speak to her; 
Where could compassion find a fitter home ? 
O, Themis, goddess, I beseech thee mercy. 
No, I will toss a stone to call her here, 
Then he down still, and she will think me dead. 

Nymph. What sound? a pebble wet, 'tis from the sea; 
Who could have thrown it ? yonder is a sink. 
That might conceal a mischief-loving boy. 
AVhat sight is this ? death, rags, or beggary ? 
Not dead, for sure the pebble came from here. 
O, misery ! it is some wrecked storm-beaten man; 
But is he sleeping ? 

Aliso. I beg you, gentle lady, • 

Toss me something to hide my nakedness; 
I would not dare address you, but am forced 
By harsh necessity; give me some shawl, 
Some scarf, and stay with me, till I may tell 
But so much of my tale, to awake your mercy; 
I swear, by all the round sea-covering heaven. 
You will not so disgrace your modesty 
By hearing, as your pity, by leaving one; 



'18 ALJSO AND ACNE. 

I am a man by harsh injustice lowered. 

Nymph Take this, what would you ? 

Ahso. I have been taken by robbers, 

Carried out to -sea, and set adrift; 
.StripjDed thus of ever^iihing, miraculously 
I scaped the threatening death, and floated here; 
Then did I think to find soft-hearted men. 
That might have pity; I crept along the shore, 
Until I reached this place, then climbed this hill, 
And there I saw the shij), that brought me here, 
Lie in the bay; heai't-kiUing sight, more di'eadful 
Than the storm, or sea, or beggary ! 
Of all that's here I am most ignorant, 
And feared it was some meeting jDlace of thieves; 
Then while I lay I saw the captain come. 
And heard him urge his suit; your words were cold, 
This gave me courage, dear lady I beseech you save me. 

Nymph. Near b}' there is a cave where 3'ou can hide, 
Until this captain leaves; there I will lead you; 
It is a place my father set apart, 
And called my own; there you will be secure 
Against intruders; within there is a spring; 
Here is the entrance ; while you're going there, 
I will away, and bring you clothes and food. 
I soon will come. [Exit. 

Aliso. Sweet storm, dear zephyr blasts, 

Mild robbers, gentle lightning fires, I thank you. 
Now heaven be merciful, lest this, my presence 
Be discovered, and set the tongue of malice, 
AVagging 'gainst her: grow these wild island airs 
Such fiowers, such fruits of maidens ? were I a king, 
That I might robe myself in gold-hned purples 
To meet her coming-back ! what will she bring ? 



ALISO AND ACNE. 19 

Some cast-off coat, some beggar-waiting rags, 

And I must wrap myself in these, and hide 

And cuddle in a cave, when I would walk 

The self of strength, and manliness, before her. [Exit 



Enter Neptune, 

Neptune. Now have I left my cave — black solitude, 
To view my own play, and to please my mood: 
The love I make I'll see in it's beginning, 
And watch it through each after out and inning; 
Confound these cares, they pester one as flies, 
That hum and buzz about a sleeper's eyes; 
111 brush them off, while waiting her return, 
That's gone to fetch the fire her heart to burn; 
I'll call the spirits out to sing to me; 
These tines rule, each, one of the mighty three; 
"With this I call fair Gahel fiom the ground, 

[Enter GalieL 
This brings the air}' Ariel at- my sound, 

[Enter Ariel, 
I touch this third and as a wavy swell 
Comes from the sea, comes dancing Thaliel. 

[Enter Thaliel. 
You come and stand, and wait obediently. 
As though expectant of some charge from me; 
Were you young kittens, as a wanton boy, 
I'd tie your tails, and make your mews my joy; 
Or lay a chip upon one spirit's shoulder. 
And tarre you on, by calling him the bolder. 
That dared to knock it off; — tell of you three, 
First, Galiel your superiority. 



20 AL180 AND ACNE. 

Oaliel. Earth-born spirit named am I, 
In velvet buds asleep I lie, 

While grows the green; 
When a carpet has been laid, 
Over it a way is made 

For me, earth's queen. 
Ariel While thou liest fast asleep, 

High in heaven my watch I keep, 

Till down I wing; 
When thou comest, idle hummer, 
To the green and glow of Summer, 
I am its king. 
Thaliel. Brawlers, often have I stood, 

Watching your indignant mood 
And angry ire ; 
When I will I rush between, 
Separating king and queen, 
Their great umpire. 

Galiel. Ariel, thou art a Har. 

Ariel. GaHel, now, no ii'e. 

Galiel. Who has ever seen you come ? 

Ariel. He that stood and heard thy hum. 

Galiel. Thou would'st make a pretty king. 

Ariel. Thou cans't ever saucy sing. 

Galiel. I will wash the poison oak, 
Its kilhng stem in liquors soak, 
And mix the dripping from its leaves 
W-'ith dew, that to wild ivy cleaves. 
And stir them with a jay-bird's quill. 
Then an inky oak-ball fill, 
And rub it on thy eyes, my^ king. 
This soon will end thy bragging. 



ALISO AND AVNE. 21 

Ariel. I will dance about thy head, 
While thou liest snug in bed; 
All thy poisons wiU I steal, 
Not a poison pang will feel. 
Gahel, I'd rub thy cheek, 
Its peachy sides are soft and sleek; 
By my troth, tbe buds that bore thee, 
Have their down-Hour scattered o'er thee. 

Galiel. Go back to air. 

Ariel. And leave thee here ? 

Galiel. Thou art a cheat. 

Ariel. And thou, my sweet ? 

Thaliel. Now I hear a storm is brewing, 
That will need my quick subduing; 
Ariel, Back, alack, alack. 
Father Neptune, in a sack 
Tie this airy Ariel, 
And leave alone this Gahel. 

Neptune. My trident's prongs I now thrust in the ground; 
Back to your homes, my chicks, and not a sound. 

{^Exeunt Galiel and Thaliel. 
Here comes the nymph; my Ariel stay 
A moment here, tell me how stands the play. 

Ariel. The captain's with Alseldo gone, 
To view the island they're upon; 
The nymph would fain Aliso save. 
And thus has hid him in her cave; 
Now she returns to bring him cheer, 
Soon will they be together here. [Exit. 

Neptune. Here will I he and watch the coming scene. 
Here is the nymph ; ho, ho ! what does she bring ? 
Sist, now, what does she say ? I cannot hear. 



32 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

Enter' Nymph. 

Nymph. Are you within ? here are sweet fragrant soaps; 
There's water in the spring to wash the brine, 
And }^ellow foam and sand oft' of your shoulders. 
Soft sponges grow within; they are my pillows; 
One may you pull and use; but not the rest; 
I pity their weak lives . Would I might send 
Some servant to your bath ! but that's detection. 
Dear sir, here is a shirt myself have made ; 
'Tis softest hnen; I hemmed for my brother; 
It is almost too good for any man, 
But I could find no other ; and here, take these, 
And listen, while I tell you where I found them. 
You hear me, sir? 

Aliso [ Within] . Dense darkness grows twice thick. 
That I may hear all and see none. 

Nymph. B}' chance 

I thought me of a chest, where la}" 
Suits old in during, but unworn, and made 
To wear at balls and masks; thence have I chose 
A sailor's suit; 'twill aid you -in escajDe, — 

no ! you'll long be here ; the captain's ship 
Is torn to giblets, and must be repaired, 
And while he's here you are my prisoner. 

Make haste, I long to see you, and hear your story. 
Neptune. A story, would a play need have no stories ! 

1 wish I had a piUow, cushion or sponge. 
To lay my head upon. I'd see a fight. 
Or dance a wake, or visit funerals. 

To see fair maidens weep, but not a story, 
Loves anticipation only; O well, 
I must endure it. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 23 

Enter Aliso. 

Sure this fountain's water 
Has been caught from heaven in lily cups; 
A bath so fine 

Earth-creeping water could not give 
I feared th' apparel, you would bring, might best 
Be suitable to wrap a beggar in; 
This is a royal garb; I might have asked 
In modesty a meaner one. 

Nymph. Too poor ! 

I've heard it said, that suffering wandering men 
Are dear to Jove ; may he be lenient, 
That I from spider covered chests have given 
What should have been new cut ! 

Aliso. May heaven requite thee I 

Nymph. Now would I hear thy tale. 

Neptune. Spin her a joxn 

Aliso. It shall be short. 

Neptune. Thank heaven ! I hate a calm. 

Aliso. I cannot urge my thoughts to fly away; 
They hover round this cave; yet must I tell thee, 
I was not made to whistle plaintive airs, 
To entice a penny from a passer by, 
And less, to lie a stall-fed daint}' son, 
To some rich nobleman; how shall I tell thee? 
I would not boast, nor would I dull and spoil 
My tale with modesty ; I'll tell it simply : 
My father is the ruling King of Greece; 
His head was growing white, 
Age-weaknsss slow approaching; already once 
He had besought me to relieve and free him 
Of his weight of state ; I was not loth, 
And answered " I will prepare myself; " 



24 ALTf^O AND ACNE. 

Then left my country, to see other lands and men, 
Till, tossed vipon the sea, and scorched upon the land, 
At last I have come hither. Is this enough '? 

Neptune. A full-moon tide of plenty ! any sailor 
Could tell a better of murders, ghosts, and witches. 

Nymph. If I perceive a halt, or lack or hitch, 
In this, your telhng, you shall begin again, 
And teU it double. You left your fatherland, — 

Aliso. And sailed, if you would hear of toils and battles, 
Scapes and. accidents, hunger and thirst, 
Things suited more to please a workman's ear 
Than yours, dear maid, tliree years upon the sea; 
From the which time what I tell 3'ou must, 
With your best leave, be made all general, 
And all events lose wdtli themselves relation. 

Neptune. Bah ! a ragazzo could begin it better. 

Aliso. Many lands we saw, inhabited 
By wild fierce men, we scarce dared look upon, 
Whose customs made us shiver to the heart; 
Strange burials we saw: some heaped with fire; 
Some laid on lofty towers, the food for vultures; 
Some hid on shelves in gloomy catacombs, 
W^here friends might come, and turn the tired body; 
Some in the rivers were cast out; and some 
Were laid for ghouls to eat, others for worms, — 
You shiver; I feared my tale might fright you; 
I wdll not tell it; yet I thank misfortune, 
That gave me scars and rags, for you to pity. 

Neptune . Now that's intolerable : this breaking off, 
This that and that, as though men had but eyes; 
Were I a nymph, he'd get ebb-love from me. 
- Nymph. 'Twere better not to visit such fierce mesn; 
But tell me more, all, I would know it all. 



ALTSO AND ACNE. 35 

Do not stop when I shudder; I will not flowers alone, 
I'd know of scars, and struggles, hardships, 
Endurance long and wearing, of strength aud courage, — 
I have 't, I'U make your scars your chapters' index: 
Here, this one on your forehead, where got you that ? 

Neptune. Most excellent ! now give it up, and say 
You never told a story in your life. 

Aliso. That, do you see it still ? I thought that vanished; 
That's from the first year, but a little wound; 
We landed on an island, — 

Neptune. Now good, go on. 

AHho. 'Twas in the night. For many days we'd sailed 
Upon a landless sea, our food was gone. 
We could not sleep for hunger thirst and cold. 
We saw a light, and I with two companions, 

'[Neptune shows interest. 
Left the rest on guard, and went toward it. 
Long we scrambled through the thorns and stones, 
Among ravines with rushing mountain streams, 
On sKppery hills and dangerous precipices, 
And came at length, where lay and shone the fire ; 
Then carefully approached, and round it saw 
Red painted men, with forks held in their hands, 
And on them human flesh, baked hands and hearts, 
Feet, legs, and heads! the sight was horrible; 
We grasped our swords, and rushed upon the men. 
And when the morning came, and we returned 
Their victors, I found upon my face the wound, 
That left this scar. 

Neptune. Short, but not so bad! the cabin boy. 
No, the forecastle boy, might do no better. 

Nymjjh. O, dreadful but to hear it; to hve it, death I 
Is't not too terrible to tell again V 



26 ALISO AM) ACNE. i 

Neptune. Bull ! that is tisli milk to a sailor's yarns. 

AlUo. Doar lady, I would gladly tell it \o\\, 
But that I feai* it be too cotu'se and rou*xli, 
And that it hath withal a boastful st>und. 

Xi/mph. Then vdW I tind one more, and be<]f you tell it; 
If maidens lU'e untit to earry scars. 
They best can })ity tlieni, when ni>bly ^von; 
This one, tell me how this one came, and where. 

AILso. This one was oiven bv an Jiccideut: 
Loni^- had Ave sailed about a northern coast: 
Now wedged between *ireat tioes of lioaliiit:^ ice, 
Now running 'gainst an icebt^rg, hurtling high. 
Now landing on the shore, to find the men 
Strange creatures, nuitHtHl in thick wild-beast furs. 
And riding, like the wind, on crusted snow. 
Drawn by moss-eating reind«Hn-, wouilerful ! 
Until, Avorn out by cold and drifting snow 
And ice and fr^^st, that miike a northern clime, 
We turned our ship ti>ward a southern sea. 
And sailed until our skins, once bleached and white, 
Now grew as tawny as an island Greek; 
Here long we coasted among many lands; 
Now putting in this bay, now anchoring 
About this promontory, now disembarked 
AVhere long-haired robber men 
Eat wrinkled olives, the poor plums of earth. 
And hoe junoDg bare blocks of marble rock, 
To thid a sustenance, themselves as happy 
As the earth's rich kings, and thus we leju'ned 
New tlunights of men and life, until at last 
We came one morning where a broad tleej) bay 
Flashed out at us, lit up with glow of tire; 
We wondered, till we saw bchinil. a nu)iintain, 



ALISO AND ACNE. 27 

And from its suniinit strr^tcliod a Hiiioko-liko (dond, 
That l)(>at and pulsed with llaiiics of re(hhs]i firo, 
And at its base it ilaslicd, as tliou^di the eai-th 
Were turned into a bellows blowing throuj^h 
This mountain pit, to heat and weld the heavens. 

Nt/mph. (), wonderful ! 

Neptune. O, mijj^hty Htory-teller ! 

Aliao. Thence came the flame we saw upon the water. 
AVould you hear more, dear lady ? 

Nymph. Tell on, tcdl on. 

I trust you did not near this f(^arful fire. 

Aliso. My (niriosity was stronjjf and led me. 
I called my comrades but they all refused, 
And begged me not to go ; at last I urged 
By gifts entreaty and persuasion too ; 

With these I clinilxul the mountain, through ashes, cinders, 
And hot falling sparks, until I reached 
The crater's very edge; then hsaned my head 
Out over the abyss, and with my hands 
I shaded thus my eyes, and while I peered 
Down in the blackness, lit with flashing flame, 
The edge gave way beneath m(i, and I fell. 

Nyinj)h. O, horrible ! 

Neptune. Good, by Jove, what next? 

Alim. I cried aloud, and thought my minute come, 
To bid farewell forever to the sun; 
But at that moment came a fiery belch 
From the deep bowels of this monster mountain, 
And filled the shaft with rushing air, and stones, 
And fire, and lava, and it bore me up. 
As harsh misfortune often lifts a man 
And rais;'s him far higher than before, 
High in the air above the opening, 



28 A /.ISO A.\n ACNE. 

Tlioii turnod mo carofiillv asiilo, and down 
1 foil and slid aloni;- tlio asliy slope 
I'uhiirnuHl, with but this si'ar. 

Nifmph. Thank Cxod, thank Giui: 

Ncpiiiiw. Now thundoror, tind out in all vour realm, 
A Ingiifor numstor than a tierv mountain. 
And III blow up another storm, to tind 
A rnii^^htier storv teller. You are a kitten; 
AVink on, the tenth day will your eyes be open. 

AlititK Dear lady, this does wcnulerfnlly ti>ueh you. 

Ni/niph. Is the earth so wide, so full of wt>nder? 
I used io think, as 1 sat by my spring;-. 
The only stranj^e thiui;* was the orani;e tree, 
That grow beside me; this setMued to n\e 
Eaiih's great viu'ioty: I oft have thoui^lit 
The orange chased the blossom, and tlie bloom 
The orange, just as thouj^h the tree grew i'wod 
Standing there, and tried to vary thus. 
With waxy flowers, luid yellow fruit, and seents 
Of loaves luid buds and bUn^ni anil onuigos, 
Its dull monotony ; but now 1 see 
Its life W!is little io the world's, as mine 
To vcnirs; and youi-s how great ! and mine how little! 
But tell me how you lost your ship and eonu-ades; 
How vou wore seized by robbers, and escaped 
The dreadful storm; and tell me of your father. 
That noble man, that generous king of Greeee. 

Ah\^o. This will be brief. We landtnl on an isljiud, 
A fsiiry Grecian island, which it seemed 
That heaven and earth and sea conspiroil togt^ther 
To make the fauest lotos-land i>f t\arth. 
There had we disembarked, and tarried, charmed 
Into forget fnlnoss of other Ituids; 



ALISO AND AUNE. 

Sweet lady, would I could but tell this charm I 

It seemed all things were made to drive out memory 

Of (5verythin^ not of the [)aHHin}j^ moment, 

Ami not, aH in all other landn, to fill i\\v, ho\\\ 

With lon^injj^ of what'H paHt, an<l what'H to come:- 

There when the day came we forgot the nif^'ht, 

And when the ni«j^ht came on, we knew no longer* 

Tliat ov(T day had be(ni, night ho cntranccid uh; 

Th(T(5 cv(!rywh(;re waH rest: no more we might 

Be named weary men; we wtroUed on shores 

Where every sjiot seemed like a couch at morn, 

So loth were we to leave it; and on the hills 

Fruits vied with flowers, to languish and cnticci us; 

The trees sweat sweetest l)alsam ivom their ])!irks, 

And spicy herbs invited us to crush them 

For their fragrant odors; there sleei) was banished,. 

That no time might be taken from life's pleasure, 

And not a flitting dream e'er i)assed before us, 

To drop a mist upon the present joy; 

E'en memory grows confused in nscounting it, 

And mixes and destroys particulurs; 

In this intoxic^ation of delight, 

I went alone and sat far from my comrades, 

By the shore! ; a ship came on, and stopped; 

I saw the approaching boat and r()l)ber crew. 

But still I moved not, till they came, and seized 

And bore me off, and then the charm was broken; 

I called to iriy comj^anions; they hc^ard, and gathered,, 

Quickly took to ship, and followed us; 

Day after day, we(;k after week, I saw 

Their sail upon the horizon of the sea; 

Till when at last it turned, and went away, 

I knew, disheartened, they had gone to Greece,. 



30 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

To tell my aged father his sou was lost ; 

'J hen came the storm, and blew such fearful blasts, 

Tliat frightened these pale superstitious heai-ts, 

Until they set me (nit adrift.. Lady, 

This is my tale. My father mourns fen* nie, 

And loiows not where to send his baffled biu-ks. 

To setu'ch this desert sea. 

Nymph. Sad, 0, so sad ! 

Neptune. And fejii'fuUy foolish ! were I a telling yai*ns 
To some cave-mermaid, I'd not make her weep. 

Nj/mpJi. I would I were your father's subject, 
YoY then when you return, you'd be my king; 
Tell me, are you like your father ? 

Ah\<o. 'Tis said 

I am in this respect of outward form 
His very reflection. 

Nt/mph. AA'ould I might see your father ! 
It must be he's the lion of all men. 

Aliso. Would I had but a raft, and broken blade, 
Or any sun-warped punch, and you should say 
You'd be my queen, I'd sit at th stern in sun. 
And night, and storm, and make my hands my oars. 
But that I'd bear thee safely to my kingdom, 
And make thee my proud queen. 

Ni/iuph. O, death ! there comes 

The captain, and my father; now you must in. 
And sit alone in darkness; were I the sun, 
I'd shglit the fairest ripening peach, to shine 
Upon the unanswering rocks of this, thy cave. 

Ah'f<o. O I must I leave thee "'' this robbery, 
That steals thee fi'om me, shames till other thefts. 
And makes them Httle. 

Nymph. Go, go, I will return. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 311 

Alii^o. Haste thy return; here will I sit, and count 
The trickling drops of water, and say eacli one 
Does make me so much nearer thy dear coming-back. 
My queen, what may I name thee ? I would tell thy name- 
To every echoing cuppy hollow of this cave, 
And set them all to whispering it back to me. 

Nymph. This one thou hast invented; 
Methinks this is the best: my Queen, my Queen; 
'Tis not so cold as Nymph, the name my father calls me,. 
And much more meaningful than Acne, 
My own right name; I would the echoes might 
But answer thee ' my Queen.' 

Aliso. I'll call thee Queen 

And Love and all the others of like niinda. 
Our little alphabet contains; when these are used 
I will invent new hollow words, 
And fill them with a thousand new love-meanings. 

Nymph. Go, go; stay; I will search the kitchen, pantriesj 
Cupboards for thy meal, and feign a sickness, 
Urging them to make me dainty dishes. 
To bring them here to thee. With kisses warm 
I know to bribe a lad, to search the island ; 
Bring me sweet hawes, thorn-apples, those that grow 
On rose-briers for thy sauce ; — quick, quick ! they come; 
My king, my king ! 

[_Eont Alim, urged into the (jroito.- 

Enter Captain and Alseldo. 

Neptune. Why, this is well worked on; with tales and love^, 
A hidden lover and a vulgar captain, 
A play will play itself; soon shall I be 
A useless listener. 



32 AL180 AND ACNE. 

Alseldo. Daughter, 'tis time 

Thou leave thy sea and cave, Ive other thoughts 
And cares invented for thee ; come, Acne, come. 

Nymph. Dear spring, and grotto, sea, and all that hears 
Your murmuring and trickling water sounds, 
Farewell; I come again; farewell, dear grotto. 

Alseldo. Be not so certain thou wilt come again, 
Daughter, this fancying of thine did well 
Become a child, and formed a pleasing j^astime; 
I bid thee now forget it; and aiding this, 
I call thee no more Nymph, but Acne. 
Come, we leave the sea; thou shalt elsewhere 
Thy hours- beguile. 

[Exeunt Alseldo, Captain, and Nymph. 

Neptune. Now will I leave them, this play 
Needs Neptune no longer. I'll lie and snore. 
What is a love ? the commonest fiddler plays 
And sings a tale of love ; but whisper 1, 
And start a play, and everybody knows 
Where o-v-e wiU foUow. [Exit. 



iMM^ 




dm- 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 33 

ACT 11. 

Scene I. A room in the house of Alseldo. Enter two work- 
men to Alseldo. 

Alseldo. I have sent for you. 

First Workman. And we have tramped the heels of your 
call. 

Alseldo. Do you know the Nymph's Cave ? 

First Workmrni. That one by the shore, with the spring in 
it, and the orange tree by it ? 

Alseldo. The same ; I perceive you understand to what I 
refer; I wish that cave destroyed, for a particular reason, to 
know which would not make your picks strike harder blows: 
I would have it blotted out, which is not to say I would 
have it dug up, which might be too great a job for you, like 
cHmbing a tree and puUing the roots up after you, unless 
you call the sea in to help you. 

Second Workman. I understand: you want it leveled: the 
walls mashed in and out, the top put on the bottom, and the 
bottom and the floor left alone. 

Alseldo. You do rightly know my intending in this matter; 
but add this: a S23ring has roots and veins and branches; 
now I would have you pull up this spring by the roots, and 
throw it all into the sea, so that not a seap shall make a sjDot 
of blue clay fresh, where this water was; you understand, I 
would have cave and spring, so to speak, razed, and the place 
smoothed over, and shaved grass growing on it. 

First Workman. Your orders are as clear as an unriled 
spring after you've put muck in it: how can you kill a spring ? 
you cut it down ten feet into the gi'ound, and some root will 
bud and get to the sun. 



34 ALISO ASD ACXE. 

Alscldo. Drtiin it into the sea, and let it mix with the brine 
before it does with the au\ Away, do the work quickly and 
thorouixhlv. Hold I cut the orani}e tree, and cast it in the sea. 

First Worhnan. It shall soon be done. 

[Ed'eunt First and Secoiid Worhyian, 

Alseldo. Thus will I blot each slightest reminiscence. 
Of her early days, Jind turn her thoughts; 
Mjike force my good physician, kill the cause, 
And hasten on the cure: she shall forget. 

Enter Acne. 

I will not toll her; 111 make it a surprise 
Hereafter. 

Acne. AATien will this captain go? 
I have a secret I Avould tell you then; 
Until then let me keep it. 

ALseldo. What secret. Acne? 

Acne. Now I ciuuiot say; but, — 
Keep me not fivm my spiing, and I will tr}-, — 
Yes, — to forget my mTQph-like character, 
For which you have so oft upbraided me. 
And love, or try to love; the process slow, 
But when this capttun goes, why then, O, then I — 

Alseldo. How now! yoiu* eyes are httle tires; 
Is't thus you glow at th' thought of losing him, 
Who soon ^^-ill be your husband? then know this; 
The captain leaves to-morrow, and has urged 
With such of vehemence his wooing suit. 
That he at hist has won my wilhng gi'ant, 
To tiike you with hun ; there, upon the sea. 
You quickest best will letu-n what's human love. 
When you retiu-n, a shoit sea voyage done, 
You will not miss your spring ; it is my will 



ALISO AND ACNE, 85 

You go not near it. 

Acne. Yes, but, — 

AUeJdo. No more of this. 

Go now make preparation to depart. \_Exii, 

Acne. I would I could have told him. 

To-morrow, with this captain ! back, to-morrow: 

Turn thy course, O time, and be all day, 

That I may never see that dread to-morrow. 

I am forbid to see my cave; here avlU I sit, 

And change to yellow-eyed despondency. 

Until they hate me, loathe ine, leave me free, 

While he sits in the darkness, lone and hungry ? 

No, disobedience is obedience here; 

I'll love thee more, and think in that I'm dutiful. 

The boy shall bring me berries, fruits and flowers;, 

I will forget to-morrow. Hylas ! HylasI 

Enter Hylas. 

Thou art a pretty boy, I like thee, Hylas. 

Ht/laa. Yesterday you called me baby, booby, 
When I tried'to kiss you; I'm no bigger now; 
You call me boy? call me a man; 
I am as high as you, and you're a woman. 

Acne. Thou art a man, a giant pigmy man. 
Come here, I'll kiss thee; there now we are friends. 
I'll give thee more; why, two, three, four, 
What more could'st ask ? come, wilt thou hear me speak ?' 

Hi/la!<. Will you hunt berries with me ? 

Acne. No, not to-day; 

I'm sad to-day . 

Hylas. Why, then, I'U go alone 

And get them for you. 



3G ALISO AND ACNE. 

Acne. Will you, my dear, good boy? 

I would you knew where grew the prettiest flowers. 

Hylax. I know them all: their colors, shapes, and sizes; 
I know theii' breaths, if they be sweet or bitter, 
Spicy, or such as make one sick and hmguish; 
Their stems I know, and I can tell tlieir juices, 
"Whether they draw and pull the tongue together, 
Pucker the lips, and make you look sour, 
Or whether they will bite and prick it. 

Acne. Oh, yes ! I see you know them. 

Hylas. And some have juices, 
That will make your cheeks as red again: 
Paint-root, — I'll make a brush of basswood bast. 
Drawn through the celly comb of some dried hornet's nest, 
And A^Tapped about a jointy rush, its handle, 
To paint thee with; 

Acne. O, no ! I'll not be painted. 

Hi/Ias. I know where grow the purple lady-shppers, 
With silver buckles, and with golden tongue; 
These will I string upon a smilax vine, 
And put red coral buds of bitter-sweet 
To hang between them, and I'll take a cross 
Of plush and silver from Jack's turnip pulpit. 
And hang it on this string, and give it thee, 
To weai' around thy neck, and then we'll play 
That I'm thy priest, — 

Acne. O, no ! this will not do. 

Hi/Ias. What shall I bring ? could I but climb the tree, 
I'd brine: thee diied balls fi-om the svcamore. 

Acne. No, no! I'm hungTy; seek me with thy taste 
Some pretty things. 

IIi/Iaf<. I know a mossy bank, 

Where busy chip munks hide their beech-nut store; 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 37 

There will I dig, and widen out their door, 
And while the chatt'ring munks are off at play, 
I'll steal their store and carry it away; 
Thy table will I spread on velvet moss. 
Bring spikenard sticks in mussels for thy sauce. 
And steal the yellow young dove from its nest, 
Build me a fire, and cook for thee its breast; 
The lush may-apples, from the thickets dark, 
I'll bring, on sun-curled plates of hickory bark; 
All that a man can find on ground or tree, 
I'll get, if thou wilt come and play with me ; 
Shells, chiseled by a squirrel's tooth, shall hold 
Spring water for thee, crystal clear, and cold ; 
O, come then to the woods, and play with me. 
And I will gather all its joys for thee. 

Acne. I cannot go, dear Hylas, bring me these; 
Go fetch them for me, and my mood thou 'It please; 
Go gather, and bring hither to my cave, 
"What pleases taste or sight, that wild woods have; 
There will I meet thee when an hour is gone, 
And take them from thee, as thy boy-love pawn; 
Now go, dear boy, here, here, I give thee kiss, 
Such as no other lad e'er got from other miss. 

\^Exit Hylas, 
What's care to me ? I love ; my heart is warm ; 
O, Neptune, I do thank thee for thy storm. 
Once thought I that a cold and crystal spring 
Brought sweetest joy, that earth or life can bring; 
But in a heart there is a joy can move 
And push aside all else, the joy of love. 
Would I had Hylas' binish ! my cheeks I'd stain; 
O, I am nature's fright, and paint is vain; 
I'H find my nurse, and she shall answer me 



88 ALISO AND ACKE. 

If I am fair : nurse ! nurse ! why should I ask ? 

I know she'll tell me ay; siu-e ever}' day 

.She's flattered me since memory's beginning; 

No, I ^^'ill bid her stay; he called me queen; 

O! I am beautiful; what he calls queen, 

That must be fair; my glass is queen and queen; 

111 look in it; I do not see my face, 

I see alone the glass, that called me queen; 

Dear glass, would I might look in thee forever ! 

My wanderer, soon, soon, I'U be with thee, 

To heai* thee tell tales by my cave and sea. \^Exit. 

Scene II. By the NijmpKs Grotto. 
Enter two Workmen. 

First Worhnan. This is the place; now by ye gods, a man 
-would think this place hid sulphiu- spnngs and stinky 
gases, scents foul to the nose and dangerous to the lungs, 
by the way he ordered us tear it down; but here's an arbor 
of a place. Folks that have theii* bread and butter soon 
quit working and tear down what they've made Curse me 
but I beheve a man should always swing a pick; then he'd 
know what cool water and a cave is. Give a wheat field too 
much manure and the wheat falls down and rots. Now 
here, this grottos a httle parlor, this groimd's a down bed 
to my legs, but a lich man, \\-ugh I a man, that don't swing 
aai ax, or a pick, or a shovel, would make a turning- wheel of 
the world, and mix up ever^-thing, and change 'em all every 
five minutes. [^I/k^o looks out.] Now this -.llseldo's sent us 
to dig down this grotto, because he wants a grass yard, 
next he'll want a park, then he'll most likely want a grotto 
again; well, we get his dollars; — now to 't. But first the tree ! 

[ Guts down the orange tree. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 89 

Second Workman. This is his daughter's resting place: 
she sits here, rests here, lies here and naps here; she'd 
leave a garden full of strawberries, to come to this cave. 
Most likely her dad's miffed, and takes away this sugar 
plum. 

Aliso. What shall I do ? to lie here is to be crushed; 
To run is to be seen, and bring a troop 
Of scandal tongues, to howl about her ears; 
To spiing upon them is alike detection; 
It seems this is her father's spiteful work. 
What, must I thus, like some dog-chased rat, 
Hide in a pile of boards, to be unhoused, 
And set on, hissed and bit ? were I a king 
In power and not in name, I'd seize this maid, 
And blow this little puff-ball island up. 

First Workman. Here is a corner, that supports the rest. 
Knock out this cobble and the top will go; 
The rest is easy. Here, tear this away; 
'TwiU make a crash; I like to see it faU. 
•Come, give a hand: here pull this flagstone out; 
Some one has thrust it in here for support. 

Aliso. Now must I bhnd them and escape unseen; 
How do't ? here, spring, lend me your aid again : 
I'll fill this sponge with water, gravel, sand. 
And cast it in their eyes. [Exit. 

First Wo7'kman. Now pull away: 

Ho, ho ! ho, ho ! a sailor pull, a tug, 
Now, now ! the devil ! the devil ! 

[Aliso throws the ivet sponges in their faces. TJie stone 
comes loose. The Workmen fall on their backs. 
Aliso ci'osses the stage. 

Aliso. Now, did I think they saw me, by great heaven, 
I'd cast them in the sea. [Exit. 



40 ALISO AND ACNE. 

First Workman. Hey? are you here? 

Second Workman. I'm more than here: I'm here with 
double weight; my eyes trippled with sand; my hair quad- 
rupled with gravel, and my clothes tenupled with water. 

First Workman. What was it ? 

Second Workman. I only know what I heard you say: I 
heard you call out " the devil, the devil;" I think you were 
right. 

First Workman. A fearful crash ! 

Second Workman. And splash ! 

First Workman. And smash ! 

Second Wor'kman . And noise ! 

First Wo7'kman. Whip me, I thought I had jumped head 
first into a well, and gone to hunting crawfish with my eyes, 
in the sand. 

Second Workman. Wonderful hkeness ! I thought I had 
plunged into the sea, and was trjdng to butt a pearl oyster 
off the rocks with my head among the sponges. 

First Workman. I looked up to see if it was raining. 

Second Workman. And I looked round afraid of sharks. 

First Workman. And as I raised my eyes, I saw two hands, 
with sponges in them, and then I cried the "devil," and 
looked round to see what you were doing. What did you 
see? 

Second Workman. I thought I saw, — 

First Workman. Never mind what you thought you saw ; 
I thought, you thought; I thought, you thought, — thought 
is nobody and nowhere; weU, what did you make of it? 

Second Workman. I didn't make weU of it; I made the 
sea; you made a well. 

First Workman. Come now, in my opinion this cave is. 
haunted. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 41 

Second Workman. Was haunted you mean; it's a ghost it- 
self now. 

First Workman. I believe there was a two-armed ghost of 
flesh and blood in that cave; if I could reason, I would 
prove it; as it is I'll prove it with wet sponges torn up, with 
sand and water scattered in bunches, and with the miracu- 
lous coincidence of our two similar visions. 

Second Workman. I was pretty well convinced of your 
conclusion before you began to reason, and I believe it. 

First Workman. Do you sit here and watch, and I wiU try 
my argument on Alseldo. In my advice you would do well to 
keep a wet sponge by you; that seems to be the instrument 
he uses, and they say fight the devil with his own weapon. 

[Exit. 

Second Workman. A most strange grotto ! If I had a fat 
body, and this were a cannibal island, I'd think a trap had 
been set here to catch me, that they might make hams of 
me. Hey, who comes next ? Some one not ordered I sur- 
mise. 

Enter Acne. 

Acne. Jump, heart, and skip and frolic, j^ou're a lamb; 
Soon wiU you find your meadow and your shepherd. 
The sun's new-polished; I never saw'm so bright. 
I would the boy were here now with his flowers ; 
Dear Hylas, scratch thy cheek with briers and thorns, 
To make thee haste; here, in these dainty sweets, 
I'd stick thy flowers and leaves; thou should'st be here; 
Had I gone on thy errand, to gather flowers, 
To crown my love, long, long had I been back, 
And kissed my perfect wreath upon his brow; 
I cannot wait for thee. What, are you here ? 
Dear man, — O heaven! [Drops the dish, 

Owhat! Owhat! O what! 



42 ALI80 AND ACNE, 

Quick, quick ! away this rubbish ; here is hfe, — 
No death; here, here ! Hfe, Hfe ! come man, and dig; 
Come throw; come puU this clear; why stump, why log, 
Hast gTown fast to the ground ? come here I bid thee. 

Second Workman. Those that do unordered can undo; 
I am a tool, a stick, with so much life 
To act as I am ordered. 

Acne. Heaven! O, heaven! 

Speak, were you ordered to destroy this cave? 

Second Workman. I was. 

Acne. By who ? 

Second Workman. Your father. 

Acne. Heaven ! O heaven ! 

And he is dead, crushed, mashed, and covered up. 
O death! O death! O trap ! O cunning snare ! 

Second Workman Your father is not dead. 

Acne. Away, begone, — 

No, stay; I'd question thee. [Aside.'] Perhaps, may be. 
Might it not be, and then a single ask 
Would spoil it, and kill it. Tell me for I must know, — 

Enter Hylas. 

Hylas. Here are the berries and flowers and apples. 

Acne. Boy, dear boy, here, keep them; see, they're 
withered. 
\_Adde.'] Can it be he did escape unseen ? — 
They're bitter, sour. [_Aside.'] No, no, that could not be. — 
"Why did you stay so long ? you came too late. 
[Aside.'] No, he is buried, dead. Put down your flowers; 
The leaves are black and mildewed; what, you cry *? 
Dear boy, I'll cry with thee : come let us sit 
And weep awhile together. Here tear these leaves, 



ALISO AND ACNE. 43 

And scatter them about that broken plate. 

Hylas. O Acne ! Acne ! I got the best I could. 

Acne. Dear boy, you did. Come, sit and weep with me; 
A while ago I wanted pretty things, 
Now I would have all sad ones. Do you know? — 
O, see, they've cut my orange tree; 'tis dead; 
Poor orange tree, 'tis dead, 'tis dead; dead, dead; 
And lies heaped up with mud and stones and water, — 

Hylas. No, here it lies; it's dry; I'll plant another; 
I know a thicket where there's nothing else 
But orange bushes, and I'll plant thee one . 

Acne. No, get a cypress; plant me a cypress tree, 
To grow up dark, and bend and shake and quiver, 
And fear and sigh and moan, and teU sad tales. 
Of death, and broken hearts, and lovers kiUed, 
Orushed, while their hearts were warm with hope, and love, 
And I wiU sit beneath its shade, and wet 
And cool it with my tears. O, get a cj^ress. 

Hylas. I will get it now. 

Acne. Hylas, O come, 

Come, go with me to search about the island, 
To find sad plants ; thou know'st the island, Hylas ? 

Hylas. I know each crack and cranny, rocky cleft. 
Each nook and hiding-place, that's big enough 
To shut a rabbit in. 

Acne. Come, Hylas, come: 

I'll go and hunt with thee along the shore, 
In every cave, and hollow, where the shadows 
Xie upon the ground. No, leave the flowers. 
'Come, let us go. [^Exeunt. 

Second Workman. At first I thought she'd dance; 
Then next, that she would personate a whirlwind; 
Another second, and I feared a flood, 



44 ALISO AND ACNE. 

But e'er the first salt sprinkles fell, she'd gone. 

Strange, strange ! the world is full of mystery: 

All caves and dens with visions, sights, and ghosts; 

The head with dreams; and even coffee settlings 

In a cup are full of prophecy. 

It's past all finding-out. Now in a spring, 

That such a ghost could hide, — 

Enter Alseldo, First AYorkman, and Captain. 

Alseldo. And as it fell you saw, or thought you saw, some 
one spring out, — 

First Worhnan. Both of us saw the same; both of us felt 
the same wet sponges and water, just as it fell, on the very 
corner of the same moment in which the cave fell in. 

Alseldo. Some one was hid here: some stroUing beggar, 
crept in to drink and rest. 

First Worhnan. I thought he might come back, and left 
my fellow here to watch. Hey, have you seen him '? did he 
come ? 

Second Workman. No he came; but a she, a maid, your 
daughter, came Hke a storm, sir, a summer storm, sir, that 
blows and whistles, hke a boy with candy in his pockets, 
and then gets furious, and tears around Hke mad, then rains, 
and goes off on the other side. 

Alseldo. The tongue is by far the biggest part of this man; 
talk straight awhile. Has my daughter been here ? 

Second Worhnan. Been, sir, and laughed and ordered, 
wept and gone. 

Alseldo. I forbade her come here. If what you say be 
true, this hath a dip of suspicion on it. 

Second Worhnan. She came as though she had a pet dog 
in this cave, and brought this dish to feed him on; the cracks 
were put in it by her eyes. 

Alseldo. No man on earth can imdei*stand this fellow. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 46 

Second Worhnaii. Why, she held the plate in her hand, 
and if she had been blind, she would be holding it still; but 
she looked at tliis cave knocked in, and the dish spht at once; 
her eyes cracked it, sir; her eyes did it. 

Aheldo. She di-opped the dish ? 

Second Workman. That's it, that's it, and cried, and flur- 
ried, and looked sad, and said dead, crushed, mashed, killed 
in a very mixed order, and then the bo}^ Hylas, came with 
flowers, came as though he had been sent for, and the two 
went off together, and that's all, and were I my aunt, I could 
not tell more. 

Aheldo. Now what is this? Here are rags, cast-off clothes; 
some one has been housing here. 

Captain. What's this ? now, by 're Nep, the sea has spht, 
or I have no head on my neck. 

Aheldo. AVliat is the matter ? 

Captain. The sea has split, sir; there's nothing truer than 
that the sea has split; a wind-storm can crack itself like a 
pop-gun, sir, and blow itself into a calm, and a sea can rage 
and foam till it splits, and makes dry land of itself. 

Aheldo. I must beg you, sir, to explain yourself; to say 
that a sea can split is to say that a hieroglyph can talk good 
Enghsh; and to say that a split sea can have anything to do 
with this cave is to say that a mummy can instruct a good 
house^^ife to make butter. I beg you, sir, be clear. 

Captain. O, sir, the sea is spht, or this island is a plank, or 
these clothes are duck feathers, or my eyes are in somebody 
else's head, or the air here has come from ghosts' lungs, or 
the world is upside down, or I am mixed, mixed, mixed. 

Aheldo The last expression of yoiu's, su*, very evidently 
contains a truth, and it would require eyes accustomed to 
cuneiform inscriptions to see any hght-streaks in your mix- 
ture; it's perfectly homogeneous, sir. 



46 ALI80 AND ACI^E, 

Captain. These clotlies, I've seen them before. 

AUeldo. The deuce you have, where ? 

Captain, On the sea, in a storm, on a man we dropped out 
to drown, but didn't hang any stones on his neck; that was 
a great mistake; stones are the best drowners, next to lead; 
ai-e there any ghosts on this island? do ghosts go naked, da 
they wear rags ? 

Aheldo. I understand, sir, you cast a man overboard the 
night of the storm, and these clothes were on him; from this, 
you surmise that he has come ashore ? 

Captain. That's it, that's it itself. 

Alseldo. If you stand still a moment, I will give you a sum 
of conclusion: this man, whom you cast overboard, has 
floated ashore without any spht sea, come to this cave, found 
my daughter, got her to pity him, and give him clothes; 
then pity became still softer, and she brought this dish, and 
sent this boy for iiowers; then she comes contraiw to my 
command, tinds him gone and goes to himt him There, 
man, not a ghost about it; ghosts are in the eyes, the nose, 
the ears, on the tongue, and in the bead Finish this work 
as I ordered you. Come, sir, Captain, we ^ill lind this 
daughter of mine, and this reasoned-out castaway, and if he 
has softened my daughter's heart, and crept into love with 
her, as I strongly feai', you may tiike youi* castaway, and feel 
yourseK in no respect bound or obliged to take my daughter. 

Captain. The love will not matter: love's a squall; a sailor 
hkes a steadier wind, and a lastier one; find her out to-night, 
and give her to me ; to-morrow we are off, and if she were in 
love with every niiui on the island, when we come back 
she'll be my worshipper. 

Alaeldo. It shall be done; come, we will find them. 

[Uxeunt. 



ALISO Aj\D ACNK 

ACT ni. 

Scene I. The Cave o/' Neptune. Neptune alone. 

Neptune. Wliat is a play ? a spider thi'ead of thought, 
Seen floating on a sunny Summer day ; 
One end is fastened and the rest is followed: 
The tinger ghdes along across a clod 
Of obstacles, now through the happy air, 
Now lost in stubble maze of difficulty, 
Till at la-^t it ends, and done's the play; 
A little foi'tune, and a deal of woe. 
Some chance, some purpose, and some lie and truth; 
Some landscapes from the heju't, some from the world,. 
With this the prime condition: fi'om the first 
It is a growth, and each new-added pju't 
Is fixed, and holds and shapes and finishes the whole; 
Therein it grains its meanini;-; as the world 
Tis fixed as firm as fate, ^\'ith no retreat, 
And is the soul's exemplar and its copy. 
What, Nep, turned philosoph ? Enough, enough ! 
And yet this coiu-se of things is wonderful; 
As though the world were crazed; now, lovers, prig 
No more ; tiu-n out your tailors, hoot your bai'bers, 
Break yoiu* looking-glasses, and weai' rags; 
Go off to sea, be tossed, and scorched, and froze, 
Eat up by cannibals, or anything 
To fill yoiu" heads with tjiles; the world's a teeter, 
And the mtiids are tiizzied, and have lost their senses; 
Or else the fault's my island. Hey, how is it ? 
How goes it ? Come, Aiiel, Gahel, Thahel, come . 



48 ALI80 AND ACNE, 

Elder Ariel, G.^liel, and Th.vliel. 

Ariel and Galiel. [/n concert.^ O, Neptuue, we beseech 
thee, cease. 
Look, look, we clasp our hands iu peace; 
United in this prayer to thee, 
To set two love-tied lovers free. 

Neptune. What, free two souls fi'om greatest bUss ? 
Sui'e, spirits, you have spoke amiss; 
And more, how should I know their love ? 
I do not o'er the island rove ; 
Here do I sit, and wait for vou 
To tell me all, and tell it true. 

Ariel. I know the saddest tale to tell. 

Galiel. But mine is wofuller than thine. 

Ariel. I tell of Acne. 

Galiel. Of Ahso, I. 

Ariel. She weeps sad tears. 

Galiel. His thirsting cheeks are dry. 

Ariel. She wanders here and there; 

Galiel. He sits alone. 

Ariel. And wakes the air with sigh. 

Galiel. And he with moan. 

Neptune. O, spirits, leave this road of corduroy, 
And speak, each singly, and ^\itliout annoy; 
I fear yoiu' peace will be June frost, short lived, 
You staii your spats as though both manned and wived. 
Tell me, Ariel, of the weeping maid, 
Whence did she come, and whither has she strayed ? 

Ariel. O, father Neptune, sure no maiden's heart 
Was ever pierced A^tli painfuUer love-dart : 
She hid her lover, but to find him gone, 
Or stony ruin lying him upon; 



ALISO AND ACNE. 49 

O, painful which, her lover free and fled, 
Or buried e'er he was assured dead! 

Neptune. Bah, bah ! true love will ever have it so; 
This is scarce inkling- of a true-love woe. 
But tell me where my wandering m^nph has gone. 

Ariel. O, end this play with her. O, woe is lo'^ e ! 
O, pity her sad heart. O bring her lover. 
My heai't was very air, but now 'tis lead. 
With pity for this love-distracted maid: 
'I watched her till you called; now here, now there, 
She roams around to search this sea-split island; 
Now sees a shadow and calls out, " 'tis he," 
And hastes to find cold airy emptiness; 
Again she sits, and sobs he's dead, he's dead; 
Then comes the boy, the pretty young boy, Hylas, 
That came with her, and thought to hunt for flowers, 
And kisses her and says, " come, Acne, come • 
I know another place that's low and shaded. 
There are sad flowers, if any where, come, come." 
He cannot understand why she should weep; 
Then quick she rises and runs on before. 
Till breathless the poor boy cries "Acne, wait." 
Thus hke a fawning spaniel does he follow, 
Now runs before, now this side and now that. 
Bewildered by the quickness of her fancy's change. 

Galiel. AUso sits alone. 

Neptune. Peace, peace; go on. 

Ariel. The boy sees only joy where she sees pain, 
And brings her flowers to throw them down again; 
Now laughs and thinks, '' another place I know;" 
Then goes, and comes again, again to go 
With quivering Up, and hide his face, and cry; 
And once I stood when he came running by, 



50 ALISO AND ACNE. 

And plucked a columbine with dew- wet ears; 

He called them diamonds, and she called them tears; 

And then the boy laughed out, " Why, Acne, dear, 

How funny that an ear should have a tear ! " 

Then Acne laughed and wept, and wept and laughed, 

And kissed the boy, — 

Galiel. And all the time Aliso, — 

Neptune. Hush, hush, ^'■our lover's tale must longer wait, 
Then shall you peacefully his woes relate. 

Ariel. O, Neptune, spare her from a farther woe. 

Neptune. My pretty Ariel, go bring her here; 
Once more I grant the lovers haj^py meeting; 
Go, find some means and lead her to this cave. 
And bring the boy while I hear Gahel's woe. 

Ariel. Quick I'll find where they have strayed, 
And thy command shall be obeyed. [Exit. 

Neptune. Now one's disposed of; Galiel, of the other 
I would hear; where is Aliso? alone 
I heard you say, and moaning sighs of love. 

Galiel. I would the saucy Ariel had stayed, 
I would his woe with greater woe have paid: 
Aliso has no boy to gather flowers, 
But in the darkest wood bemoans his hours, 
And fears to move, lest his detection bring 
Harm to the maid. 

Neptune. Why, this is as I'd have it. 

Galiel. There does he sit, and weigh what he shall do. 
With hungr}^ stomach and a hungrier heart. 
And fills the woods with sighs, and vows to starve. 
And hide in darkness of the coming night. 
Until that ship shall leave the island fi'ee. 

Neptune. Now will I take a part; they that stand by 
Where others work are oft the tireder: 



ALISO AND ACNE. 51 

I'll seek Aliso and will bring him here. 

Galiel. He starts at every sound. 

Neptune. I'll creep upon him 

Ere he is aware, in dwarfish shape, — 
Enough ! I'll bring him here, and love shall reign. 
Meanwhile the workmen seek to find their ghost; 
Oo lead them here. 

Galiel. O, Neptune, spare, O, spare. 

Neptune. Go, bring them here; but mind, not tiU with 
vows. 
And all the fragile chains that consecrated 
Are to love, these lovers have made fast 
And bound themselves, chains easy broke as forged, 
But in tbe process many a spark does fly, 
That glows, and pleases many a passing eye. 
Now Galiel, go; we aU shall busy be, 
And Thahel, I'll find employ for thee. [Exit Galiel. 

What would'st thou do, my Thahel ? 

Thaliel Alone 

About the rocky shore I'd roam 
And dress my hair with pearls of foam, — 

Neptune. Not so, no idling here; no vagabonds, 
To stroll the shores and daUy with the waves. 
Thou shalt aloft; thy speed is like the hght, 
That rolls upon the smoothed path of night; 
Go, tell the gods the end comes on apace; 
Before the folding doors of morning's stall, 
Let out old Phoebu's steeds, my isle shall fall. 
Bid them be present at the closing scene ; 
AU shall be ended as begun I ween. [Exeunt, 



6S ALL<0 AXD ACXF, 

Scene II. Anot'fwr place on the Island. 
Enter Alseldo. Captain, First and Second Mate. 

Captain. Strtuige, most strange! 

Alsddo. Nothing strange about it: you were ueiu* the 
shoi*e when you put him overboard. 

Captain. That was the devils storm : okl Nick himself had 
set it on, and ou the topmasts, n\ils, and yju'ds, wherever a 
corner stuck out k^ose, his minions sat. and looked at us, 
find crackled, laimhed, and chuckled; I teU vou it was the 
de\"irs own stonn. 

Alstido. Tut. man, the storm is in your head : Our gn\pes 
ni*e stronir; there ai'e waves of wine in vour mind; what sav 
you, sii'. can you spcjik my ^^-ine high ? 

First 3 fate. Its quahty and its quanity run races N^th each 
other, and the wine itself gi-ows red, and blushes, and 
spsu'kles, while it looks on. 

Alstido. Good, you hetu*, sir? AVhy. man. soon we'U prove 
to you there was no storm. 

Captain. Do you remember the clothes we put on him? 

Second J/a/e. AVeU, very well ! 

Captain. They've come ashore. 

^Ktv/j*/ Jfa/e. They were not hai\i to strip off him; no 
wonder they tloated ashore: clothes are t'eathei*s, tins, wool, 
hair, cotton, all light, all tioaty. 

Alseldo, Come, man ! why this is the veriest of cowjirvlice. 
Let us go down to the shore, thei*e is another place that 
used to have a spring in it. There I suspect my daughter 
is gone. Come, let us tind her. 

Oaliei. iSinySy i/uiViTVe.] Ei*e the heavens with morning 
olow, 
"Will the sea this isle o'ertlow. 

Captain. Htu*k, htu*k I 



ALFSO AND ACNE. £18 

Oaliel. Not a spot will land or shore, 
Show above the sea waves hoar. 

Captain. Do you hear it? 

Galiel. Vulcan's lire and heaven's thunder, 
Then will spread your eyes in wonder. 

Captain. I say, do you heiir it, man? 

Alseldo. I hear nothing; why, man, you're a ghost, a bat- 
tery; your hair is bristles, your eye-balls, why, man, they're 
wall-eyed, they've gone to looking the wrong way; they've 
turned in there, where this sound is, that we don't hear, 
>Come, let us get under the cover of the house, till you can 
get your hair down, and your eyes out. Come, come ! 

[Exeunt. 

Enter Galiel. 

Galiel. With songs and air-sounds will I fright him, 
Will I be^^^[teh, betroll, benight him; 
Had I cai'e of all eai'th's lovers, 
They should chirrup hke Spring plovers. \_ExiL 

Scene III. A Wood. 

Entei^ Neptune as Dwarf. Aliso, seated. 

Aliso. O, what is difficulty where love is ? 
If I were wedged fast in thy cloven trunk, 

elm, and that dear maid should come to me, 
I'd stop my whine and soon forget my pain. 
O, I am happy; tut, hunger, I am deaf, 

1 hear you not; I'll feed you on mushrooms, 
Or let you snarl ; O, now I see the world 
Was made to hold this maid, and I to roam 
Around until I found her; but should they find me; — 
Hark, hark ! 



54 ALTSO AXD ACSK 

Xeptune. Acne, Acne ! this name "^^411 hold him. 

Aliso. Most wonderful I what, have I thought so loud. 
The woods reecho my unspoken thought '? 
I have not Sixid her name, and yet I hear it. 
Now tliis is sensible: the ti'ees ai'e lovers 
"When a lover's near them ; till nature knows 
The secrets of the heart, and keeps them secret 
From :ill other he:u*ts; is confidante 
To every one, but ne'er betrays their tales; 
Then if I heai' her name from every leaf, 
I'll say it is but nature's sympathy, 

Xtptune, Acne! Acne I 

AlifiO. Dear wood you've learned my song, 

Neptime, Acne ! Acne ! 

Aliso. Now if some gnai'led root. 
For that the leaves have voices and roots none, 
Should swell ^^-ith envy, and take on some shape. 
Some form fantastic, gifted vrith tongue speecli, 
I would but think it due and nghtly seized; 
For why should one part thus be overdowered ? 
The world shall all be voice when I am king, 
And every part ahke shidl speak that name. 

Xcptune. [Approaching]. The maiden Acne, comes. 

Aluto. This goes beyond 

The power of nature ; she is no reasoner. 
Now have I read old t;Ues. that in the woods 
Ai'e giants, dwarfs, all kinds of elves and witches, 
"Who never show themselves biit when they feel 
The hot breath of a lover's sigh; I'll sigh. 
Though these ai-e tales, mere films, not worth a thought;; 
But when our fancy is set on by love 
Love miikes us credent of oiu* fancv's forms. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 55 

I would believe, [^Neptune lays his hand upon AHso's shoulderji 

the very heaviness 
Mj shoulders make, was pressure of some elf, 
Some alpen driickeii, as when maids asleep 
Lie still and dream of love ; then sifi^h and weep 
And gape, and see their lovers, but to wake 
And find them gone. My thoughts are realized. 
Dear Dwarf, were 3'ou a vision tliinner 
Than the bloodless sea medusa, that is the very 
Sea soap bubble, I beseech you stay. 
Tell me did you say Acne ? did I hear your voice ? 
Where is the maid, or are you voiceless ? 

Neptune. I ve come to lead you to her. 

Aliso. Beautiful ! 

Thou art the fairest dwarf, — wouldst thou not think 
It merest flattery, thy shaggy beard 
I'd call a silver-colored wateifall; 
Thy humpy back I'd call the rich loamed mountain; 
Thy forehead should the mountain's marble brow 
Impersonate; thy eyes be bubbling fountains; 
And thy voice, that tells me of my love, 
Should be the tepid breezes of the South 
Upon the melting snow. Where is my love ? 

Neptune, Come with me quietl}-; be not afi'aid. 

Aliso . Where have I seen you ? Where have I heard that 
voice ? 

Neptune. Come, come ! I am your dream, your Ufeless 
vision. 

Aliso. By heaven, you shall tell me who you are; 
I were content you were a bloodless vision, 
But that your voice has stirred my head alive 
With whirling memories; who are you, who? 

Neptune. Underneath the airy sky, 



56 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

Next to Jove in power am I ; 
TMien lie laughs I lie and listen 
While the sunbeams on me glisten; 
When he frowns I seek the shore, 
And range among the caves, and roar; 
An hour ago I found a maid, 
Upon the shore where she had strayed; 
Bound in love-knots was her hair, 
If you come, I lead you there. 

Alisv. I grow no wiser from your rhymed speech. 
I ^^^ll not follow you, begone, begone ! 
I'll try if you're a vision: where' s a club V 
Visions are such shapes accommodating, 
That a thrust a cut, a slash, no more 
Disturbs them than a breath, the air. — No, hold ! 
The memory was good. I know not where, 
Or when, or how I've seen you; but I'll go; 
For there are overtones of memory 
Ti] at linger when the baser sounds are dead; 
These bid me trust you; lead on, I follow you. 

[Exeunt. AHsorapt. 

Scene IV. By the Cave of Neptune. 

Enter Ariel. 

Ariel. They come, I found them easy lure; 
Where love encamps, there capture's sure: 
Now as a tluttering mother bird, 
Who leads the wanton from her ward, 
Now chirping some cicada tune, 
As restful as a Summer noon, 
Did I lead and lure the boy, 
And Acne followed, — ship ahoy ! 



ALISO AND ACNE. 57 

Here they come; now, now, I'll sing them 
One more bird song here to bring them : 

O'er the tree tops, treet, tre, tree 1 

Fly I, %!,%!; 
Not a boy can bother me, 
Treet, tre, tree ! treet, tre, tree ! 

Heigh yei ! heigh yei ! heigh yei ! [Exit. 

Enter Hylas, running 

Hylas. Where is the bird ? come, Acne, here, 'twas here; 
I know it by its song; it is John Wren, 
The man who is a live and feathered thumb ; 
Come, Acne, come : Wh}^ here's the Old Man's Cave ! 

Enter Acne. 

Acne. Come, Hylas, quick away. 

HyloH. No here's the cave; 

I cairt tlie Old Man's Cave. 

Acne. Come, come away. 

Hylax. Why, you're afraid: you shiver; I want to tell you 

Acne. No, come away. Come where the woods are close 
And there's no sea, no spring; — no, go and see 
What's in the cave, then come. [Exit Hylas. 

May be he is within; to-morrow, no ! 
O, dreadful thought ! this cave, O yes, I know, 
I had almost forgotten it; 'twas here, — 
Yes here I lived; the storm, the nymph, the spring, — 

Hylas. O, Hylas ! 

Enter Hylas. 

Come, what's in the cave ? 
Hylas. There's nothing there. 



68 ALTSO AXD ACXK 

Aivie. Come on, come quick. 

Ml/las. I ^^•isll that I could tell you 
"What I saw here ouoe, and ^Yhy I call't 
The Old Mans Cave: there was a spring here once. 

Acne. Come, bov, come cui. 

Hyla/, But now it's all ofone drr. 

Acne, Well, tell it if you will 

Hi/la^. There was a spring here, 

And 1 used to come and play about it; 
One day I ctmie, and just here sat a man, 
A httle, old, dried man, with long, gray lieaixi. 
And hmupy back, and shiny eyes, and hair 
That hung down on his forehead, white as snow; 
A crookeii, funny mali; I went up to him. 
And then he hmped away, and when I went 
In&dde, the spring was gone, and cnimpled clay 
Was there , and nothing moi-e. AVhy. Acne, Acne, 
What is it ? you like to hetu* it ? 

Acne. Come, let s go in 

And sit awhile 

loiter Secoxp Workman. 

and you may tell me more; 
Come, come. [Ejceunt Acne and Hylas. 

Setxind Workman. Here they ve stopped, and gone in; here 
come. 

Enter First Workman. 

See there they stoppeii awhile. 
And then went in. 

ISrsi Workman What's to be done? We're not sent to 
tind them, and vet I know thev're wanted. 



ALISO AXD ACNE. SflT 

Second Workman. Do you know how to catch green 
moths ? tie the female in the Avindow and put a lamp by her; 
in the morning you'll have a whole room full of he's. 

First Work' man. Do you tliink he'll come here ? 

Second Workina)}. Think it I what did you say about 
thought ? Try it, man. Go you to the rest, and tell them 
of oiu' tind, and I'll lie here till you come ; and what comes 
out I'll follow, and what goes in I'll know is there. 

First Workman. Good, I'm gone. 

Second Workman. Of coiu*se he'll come here ; I'll lie 
down and hide and wait for liim 

Enter Neptune and Aliso. 

What so soon ! now as though expressed : two heads hide, 
another leaves, and two more are ready to take their places ;; 
it's just as well to hide my own then : now here, head, duck 
it ; yet I wish the eai*tli had a crack here, that I could hear 
and look through. [Exit-. 

Neptune. 'Twas here I saw her, and I much suspect 
This place now hears her sighs ; but hark you, man, 
Write short your love, on briefs ; or if you speak it, 
Put't into vows so strong that one's enough ; 
I would not speak to you in mystery, — 
Enough ! I know your tale ; the men will foUow, 
And woQ soon be here ; you must be gone ; 
And more, now mark my words, before the dawn 
This island must have nothing but yoiu' tracks ; 
The why remain ccmcealed in my mind. 
Now I am minded to aid your escape ; 
Then in ; here will I stand, and guard the door^ 
And when I call, break off and come away, 
Nor danger life by lingering love play. 



60 AUSO AN'D ACXE. 

Away, begone, nnd my iiijuiietions mind. 

No other friend so tirm as m > you'll tind. [Exit Aliso. 

Thus will I grtin his trust, but ojill too late. 

And when he's captured he \A'ill blame his fate. 

The tire of love does never warmer glow 

Than when retleoted from some cooliiiiJ snow. 

This is my piu'pose, that I fan love on. 

To blow it out again before the dawn : 

The isle shall fall. Aliso sluill go free; 

The nymph again be as she used to be; 

This love will send no bubble to the air. 

To show that ever sighful love was there. [Exit 

Scene Y. Li the House of Alsekh. 
Alselpo, Cafiwin and Mates. Enter First Workman. 

First Worhnan. Your daughter, su*, — 

Alsehio. Is still on the island, I surmise. 

Eirst Worhnan. I have just seen her, — 

Alseldo. And, — 

Eirst Worl'man. And the boy, Hylas. 

Alseldo. And, — 

Eirst Workman. And, and, and, and I saw no one else. 

Ahxldo. If YOU have anything to s.ay. tell it in a bunch, 
man: you saw my daughter and the boy, Hylas; you need 
not descrit>e them, nor make a history alxnit them; where 
did you see them, and wjien, and what doing ? 

Etrst Worhnan. We saw them come where the land runs 
down to a point in the sea; there they stopped, and went 
into a lu^llow cavern, where the spring used to be, and we 
suspect, — 

Alseldo. Never mind what you suspect ; enough I she is 
there; most likely your ct\staway is there ^^ith her; come, 
let us tind them. 



ALIt^O AND ACNE. 61 

Captain . Now this is most heartless, most inj^^ratef iil : she's 
sailed off from her father's harbor, where she's anchored in the 
lee of the winds, year in, year out; this is heartless, per- 
fectly heartless, sir. [Exeiud 

Scene VI. The Cave of Neptune. 
Aliso, Acne, and Hylas. Enter Neptune. 

Neptune. Come quick, away! [Exit. 

Acne. What, must you leave so soon ? 

O, little minute we have been together ! 
But longer than all time, all other time ! 
To-morrow you will leave, and I, and I, — 
O, were this night forever ! I'll say farewell, 
Dear love, I'll say farewell; I'll say't again, 
And over and over; sure this long, long night's 
Not yet begun; 111 say farewell till morning. 

Alixo. I would not leave; O, I would stay till morning. 
'Tis light, 'tis day from an unspotted sun ; 
And you my sun. my queen; O, say but stay 
And all my will will grow into a rock; 
I will remain by thee, and we'll repeat 
Our new-learned vows, until jill other lessons 
Lose their conninf>* and then fade away. 

Acne. Long, long I searched for you, and thought you dead, 
And prayed you might escape, and now, and now, 
I'd have thee in a prison, there could I come 
And be thy only light. 

Aliso. Dear love, this leave 

Is but to find a longer, surer stay : 
Escape for me, that is not by thy side, 
Is plunging in a snare ; but I will find 
Some bark to carry us, and when the sun 



iJe ' ALISO AXn ACXE. 

Shinos cm the sea rtgaiii. we'll steer our boat 
Together o'er the waves. O, I am hope. 

Acne And I am full of fear: this is the last, — 
The last time I shall see you: O stay a Httle: 
Stay until "tis dark, or till the moon 
Conies up, or till the st:u*s shine out, or till 
Some planet not yet risen shall rise, and then 
I'll wish it were the lost among the Pleiads, 
For then thou'dst never go. 

AIi^(K Here will I stay 

Until thou bid me go: nor will I think 
Again of leaving thee. I'll sit and thmk 
How high I prize thee: but I will not tell it: 
I will think on forever, an endless task. 
What is the boy's n;une, Hylas ? Hylas, deju" boy. 
You are not jealous, come: she is my queen, 
And slie is yours. 

Oo, Hylas. to the door ;uid tell the man 
That sits there, that he need not e;ill again; 
If Jill the robbers come I wiM not go. [Exit Hylas. 

Acne. No, no: this is my foolisli heart. 
That has no eyes to look into the future. 
I nuist not keep you. 

yeptuue. [EntenngJ. Away, begone: th^' oome. [E.rit, 

Aliso Deju' love, I will not move: here will I sit until,— 

Acne. O, haste, begone; O eruel words. 
That I must speak ! they freeze my lij>s: go, go. 

EnttT Alseldo, Capt.\in and Workmen. 

But say once more this is no dretim. 

That when the day has frighteued, leaves a sore 

lurijimed in memory. O, words are air. 

And lighter than a mist; but speaJi once more 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 63 

Those words, those vows of love, they are not ah', 
They are my rain, my soothin<( Summer shower; 
Say, when the nij^ht is gone, wilt thou still love, 
Or like the inconstant dew, rise with the sun 
To couch tht^ comin«>- ni<i^ht Avith other flowers ? 

Alii<o. It is a little word that lovers say, 
"I will be true till d(»ath," but there's no greater; 
Then, death, come, groaning death, and thou wilt find 
My love-knot hard to undo; I vow till death 
I will be true. 

Captain. The vow will not be long. 

Acne. O, heaven ! quick, quick ! 

Aliso. Too late! 

Acne. (), I have killed him. 

O, heart! O, tongue ! O, foolish, prattling tongue. 
That kept you here ! 

Aliso. One word: fearnot, fear not, 

I'll find a way. 
'Tis best to go without resisting them. 

Alseldo. Lead off; when morning comes 
Two difficulties will be easy solved [ Exeunt. 

Enter Neptune. 

Neptune. At first my thought was to be taken, too. 
To increase his trust in me; but when I heard 
The maid cry out and say, " O, I have killed him," 
This seemed the better way, to escape unseen; 
For now't grows serious; how shall 1 free 
These lovers, and destroy their love ? 
Some plan must be devised, and that in haste, 
Or soon all cunning plan will be but waste. [Exit, 



CA ALISO AXB ACXE. 

ACT IT. 

Scene I. By the Nymph s Grotto. Evening. 
Enter Ariel, Galiel, and Thaudel. 

GaUel. All uie ! I would that spii'its coiild slied. tears. 

Thaliel. Thv would is one-half mine. 

Ariel. And one-half mine. 

GaJiel. A three-halyed would I Init I in truth am sad. 

Thaliel. And I. 

Ariel. And I. 

Galiel. Then shall we dance for giief ? 

Thaliel. I'd rather make pretence of poui'ing teai's. 

Ariel. Glass-hearted Galiel I 

Galiel. I have a thought. 

Thaliel. Let't drop; left di-op. 

Galiel. Let's tell a tale of woe. 

Thaliel. Begin, begin. 

Galiel. I'U weave it of the fear, 

That's cocooned round my heart : upon the shore 
The pretty, loveless maid Mill roam no more. — 
De dee! I cannot teU't, my thi'oat is fiiU; 
Try't, Ariel. 

Ariel. I'm not so chicken-hearted. 

I'U spin my tale, — for I begin as you, — 
From soiTow — milk-week-down, and dye it red, 
For on the shore I see a hero dead. — 
Da daa ! what's more to say ? tell thine, tell thine, 

Thaliel. I'U teU it if I can, but where begin ? 
I cannot do as you, both weave and spin. 
And yet I know the saddest tale to teU, 
About a man, Tvho thought to end all weU 



ALISO AND ACNE. 85 

And failed . Alas ! my tale is even done, 
And I had scarcely thouglit it was begun. 

Galiel. A woful out ! 

Ariel. And yet niethinks 'twas sad. 

Thaliel. 8ist ! father Neptune comes, begone, begone; 
A grimful countenance his face has on. [Exeunt. 

Enter Neptune. 

Neptune. What shall I do ? how cut this difficulty ? 
But first 111 know just how the knot is tied; ' 

My Ariel, 

\ 
Enter Ariel. 

draw on thy winged shoes, 
Which outfly thought, and bring me what I'd know: 
What do they with Aliso V what with the maid "? 
What are the doings on the isle to-night ? 
This answer me. Now go. [Exit Ariel. 

How can I wait 
For even his return ? m}' haste is growing. 
Now would I save these two; enough's enough. 
The nymph has loved; — this was at first my purpose. 
I would not lose her to be carried off 
And married to this captain; she has suffered 
Full plenty of love-pain ; and this Aliso 
Has shown himself well worthy of his rescue. 
As for the rest, that haunt this witched-up island, 
They touch me little, and if all go down, 
My tears will make the brine no heavier. 
The nymph must now return; this is the end 
That hangs out loose ; by this I will untie it; 
This power I gave her, but I have no way 



06 ALISO AND AC^'E. 

To make lier use it ; should it be that love 

Has so took hold of her, that she refuses 

When I bid her come, — what shall I do ? 

Then am I forced in spite of all her pains, 

To make them sharper till at last she yield: 

I'll drive her. if it must be to the peak 

Of highest difficulty, till she leap 

ITpon this only shelf of rescue; then 

The rest is easy done. Meanwhile the play 

Has lost its triviahty : I have 

Almost forgotten Puck, and e'en the elves, 

The little graceful tripplers of the meads 

Are quite supeiiiuous; 111 let them he 

"Where I have furnished them a picnic couch. 

"WTiere is this Aiiel ? why, sure he's slower, — 

Enter Aeiel. 

How now, clod hopper, ^vith youi' thick-soled brogans, 
I thought I bade you haste. 

Arid, On winged winds about the isle, — 

Neptune. Stop, not another word; 
Where are yoiu* senses ? can you not perceive 
That seriousness has tlown and settled here ? 
Tell clearly and distinctly what you tell. 

Ariel. The rich Alseido does prepare a feast, 
To be the green leaves to a wedding rose. 

Neptune. Now, Ariel, this is intolerable. 
Tell me in straight, planed words, where is Aliso? 

Ariel. He lies fast bound. 

Neptune. Where is the nymph '? 

Ariel. They flatter her, and soothe and say soft words, 
That seem to her like thorns wrapped up m wool 



ALISO AND ACNE. 67 

Neptune. Have you no more to tell ? 

Ariel. A messenger 

Has gone to fetch the priest. 

Neptune. What, now at last ! 

This lets me out; you've stumbled on a nugget; 
That's it; where is the priest? 

Ariel. Deep in the wood; 

A holy man, — 

Neptune Show me the way; I'll go 
And rob him of his visage; ha, ha ! a priest ! 

Ariel. I am a priest, away. 
Go to the maid; remind her of her spring; 
Keep fresh in her the memory of the words, 
*'I would retm-n; " they are her refuge, go. [Exit Ariel, 
I'll to the priest; but hold; come come, come come; 

Enter Galiel and Thaliel. 

Hush, not a word. Fill up your heads with songs; 

Practice your nimble throats, till not a sound 

Chromatic as a needle point, but you 

Can find and sing it; watch me; stand about, 

Where you may see into unspoken thought, 

For I shall need you; away. [Exeunt, 

Scene II. In the House o/'Alseldo. Night. 

Alseldo, Captain, Mates and Servants. 

Alseldo. That we thus turn the night into the day, 
Eeplace the darkness with our artificial suns. 
And here begin a feast, when properly 
Our natures should be dead, or feigning death, 
And in this seeming cheat, fiUing their pockets 
With new-stolen nourishment, your haste 



68 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

To leave our island must excuse. I trust, 
Your superstitious fancies driven out. 
Your mind will readily embrace this hour,. 
Though even the ver}^ day dividing line, 
To make the feast's beginning; nature made 
This latter half of darkness down hill night. 
Or up hill* of the day ; then let us ride 
With festive trot the easy downgrade slope, 
And leave to snoring swains the rising half. 

Captain. Your sailor trips it with the lightest toe : 
Now heel, now pad, now bend, now crook the knee ; 
The deck's his dancing master; grant me leave 
To call the ship's crew here, I wager you. 
Your walls will grow sick with the stomach's dizziness. 

Aheldo. It is a good suggestion; thus we'll join 
The sea and shore in dance of jollity. 
Go, rouse the workmen from their lazy beds, 
Whisper a tune of midnight dance into their heads, 
And bring them hither. \_Exit SeruantH, 

Fetch on sujDply of wine ; 
Prepare the tables; bring the gypsy crew, 
That house it in the neighboring narrow lane ; 
Their mirth is catching as a chicken pox. 
And when they dance we must break out with it. 
One have I sent to fetch the knot-tying priest. 
Go, bid my daughter haste; the time draws on, 
And we have much to do before the morning. 
An hour of roaring mirth will fright away 
More hankerings of love than any lion 
Meek-hearted sheep. Bat gild a wedding well 
And fill't with mirth, and other loves are gone. [Exeunt. 



ALI80 AND AONK 69 

Scene III, Another Room in the House of Alseldo. 

Acne. Enter a Servant. 

Servant. Your father calls; make ready for the wedding. 

lExit. 

Acne. O, stay a moment; tell me, must I go? 
Is there no help ? O, he has gone and left me 
Alone and in despair ; what can I do ? 
I must prepare myself, — for what, O what ? 
He said, " I'll find a way;" that gives me hope; 
What way ? what path is open through this maze 
Of thorny difficulty ? Would that death ? 
No, no, I will not wish for death ; — yet death's 
A better bridegroom than an unsought one; 
O, gloomy death! here, here, I have a thought: 
I'll dress myself for death, and for my love: 
I'll wear a cloak of black, and think of graves; 
But for my hope, — ^let's see; — I wiU prepare 
A m^Ttle wreath, and wear a veil of white 
Beneath my cloak, and thus be outward symboled 
As my heart is portioned between hope and fear. 

[Busies herself with the veil. 

Enter Ariel. 

Ariel. How shall I speak to her? how give my message? 

Acne. Who are you, and where from? what do you here ? 

Ariel. I am the sj)irit, Ariel, of the air : 
When I would weep I comb the willow's hair, 
And bend its locks, as o'er a face asleep, 
Wbile men, who look, see but the willow weep; 
At eve I climb ujDon the gloomy pine. 
And no one knows its moaning sounds are mine; 
Or hid among the cypress boughs I lie, 



70 ALISO AND ACNE. 

Where all its needles turn my breath to sigh; 
I shake the cottonwood, and blanch its leaves 
And ignorant mortals say the sad tree grieves; 
I roll the showers from the sycamore, 
Then rub its leaves, and dry them as before ; 
Deal* maid, I have a tender heart believe ; 
I come to biing your sadness good reprieve. 

Acne. Gentle spiiit, sm-e your words are fine; 
Would, would your heai-t could feel the pain of mine \ 
Then teai's, or sighs, or moans, or tangled hair, 
"Would be no solace for your heart-worn care. 
If you that round me in the soft air hover 
Have pity for me, bear me to my lover. 

Ariel. There is no solace for a love-sick heart, 
That lives and suffers from its love apart; 
And if its love must die, O maid ! O maid ! 
On what in heaven then is solace stayed '? 

Acne. Speak, spirit, I must conjm-e thee, 
In words more meaning plain to me. 
A sad foreboding in thy words I hear, 
And your reprieve of fear proclaims new fear 

Ariel. I peep thi'ough cracks of time, and there I've seen^ 
What will thy heart still sharper pain I ween ; 
Though I thi'ough airy paths my footsteps swerve, 
I now the water king, Neptune, serve ; 
You start, I see my words your bosom burn, — 
Nymph, nymph, your fi-eedom is, "I would return; " 
These are the charm; keep these before yom- mind, 
And soon a pretty, painless spring you'll find. 
My chai'ge is done ; I go, but this perforce 
Must lead thee from the snares about thy course. [Exit. 

Acne. O, stay, O, stay. Now even air deceives me, 
And sends its promises, then pains and leaves me. 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 71 

Was this your comfort, to recall my cave ? 
No, no ! a thought far better is my grave. 

Enter Alseldo. 

Alseldo. [Perceiving the veil.] Why, this is well ; this shows 
a willing heart; 
I will forget your disobedience. 
So, pretty, trig yourself and come ; the dance 
Will soon begin. Why, this is quick obeyed; 
Put love into a heart, and I declare 
It makes no difference what love is there. 
Why, soon I'U bless the chance that brought the man. 
Whose love makes you thus heedful of my plan. 

Acne. O, spare me, spare, O, spare; the feast is spoiled, 
The dancers lame, the sweetest meats are tainted. 
What can I plead that I, myself, may stow 
My heart, my gift, where I would have it go ? 
Love is a little thing, as life is little ; 
I have not known it long, but life and love 
Have grown together, have their sustenance 
From out the same root, and if torn apart. 
The tree must die, and I'm the tree, O spare. 

Alseldo. What, so? still stubborn ? Out! I'll hearno more: 
No whine, no sickly dout, as some spoiled child. 
That blubbers at the curing medicine 
By heaven and earth, my wrath will soon arise ; 
You runaway ! you young deceiving witch ! 
I'U break you in, and tame you; get you ready 
When I come again to go with me. [Exit. 

Acne. O heaven ! what, O what ! I'll think it through 
The twentieth time to find something to do. 
I'U wipe my tears and think with clearer eyes. 



n ALISO AND ACNE. 

Nor sigh for trouble is made worse by sighs: 

I cannot marry him, O death ! O death ! 

Nor can I die for love is my life's ))reath; 

I cannot breathe and blow my breathings out, — 

O, choking knot, O rope, thy strings are stout. 

I thought to hide this knife here in my breast, 

And when the worst came, prick me to my rest; 

But this I cannot do, I may not die, 

And love alone can give the reason why; 

I'll throw it down; no, no, I'll hide it here; 

My burial bed shall be my bridal bier; 

Thus will I mix the joy and pain of life, 

I will not be a forced and loveless wife. 

O ! O ! I see I cannot reason it, 

For reason bounds, and sighs lie where it hit; 

But this is best, this way I will pursue, 

To have one more way that I may not through: 

I'll keep the knife, and hope and reason on. 

And fear and sigh until the morning dawn, 

Nor think once of the wood the spirit gave, 

For rather will I think upon m.\ grave. [Exit. 

Scene IV. A Wood. 
Enter Neptune aiid Galiel. 

Galiel. This is the place. Yon shagbarked hollow tree 
Is made his cell; within he tells his beads. — 
Hark, hark ! the messenger, 

Neptune, Now Gahel, 

If thou hast any show of spirit trick. 
Take on some form and lure this man away; 
If he remains, my intents are eggshells mashed. 
What, canst thou do't ? say quick, before I send 



AU^O Ayn ACNE. Td 

To fetch a host of fays, his course to bend. 

Galiel. I'll be the maid with fiery wisp, 
Of cracklin*:^ torch and gases crisp, 
And lead him thus youi* way beyond, 
And sink him in the boggy pond. 

Neptune. Quick, quick! he comes. I'll hide within this 
tree ; 
^ide there, until your lazy wits ferment. 
And rtuse this little loaf of saving dough; 
Be off and come transformed or e'er you go. 

[Exeunt. Neptune behind the tree. 

Enter Messenger. 

Meiisenger. Sure, it was here ; what thing was that I saw ? 
The priest lives here, or I am blind, or lame, 
Or led by some crook-legged Saint Vitus' dance 
The wrong way; I will call: ho, ho ! 

Enter Galiel with a torch. 

What's this? 
Who are you, pray ? tell me what is yi)ur trade ? 
This is strange place to find an honest maid. 

Galiel. Oh, dearest nightman, I have gone astray; 
Come, guard me to my home, I'll light the way. 

Me.-isenger. Who are you, tell me, I would know your name ; 
I fear you lead me some deceptive game. 

Galiel, Come, go with me, I'll tell you on the way. 

Messenger. No, I must find the priest, I fear you play. 

Galiel. Stay, stay a moment here, and I will tell 
My name, my duties, and the where I dwell: 
Fair Galiel am I of the mellow ground ; 
My couch is made where gurgUng waters sound, 



74 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

And where no cricket chirps about my head, 

There on the moss-stuffed slats I lay my bed; 

And when at night a weary man I find, 

I lead him there, and there his cares unbind, 

And take from off his back, and on the ground 

He rests, soothed by the sweetest bubble sound. 

Come follow me; when you have learned the way, 

You may return and hunt for priests till day. [Exeunt. 

Enter Neptune at^ Priest. 

/ 

Neptune. I found it easy work to get his gown. 
But his hypocrisy was harder won; 
This stole upon my back is easy born; 
This hood befits me as though always worn; 
Thus do these Httle shows the power lend, 
Their easv fonn about each corner bend. 
My head is suitable for dwarf or priest, 
And needs no changing for the coming feast; 
Strange, how the simple shifting of a gown 
In moral scale will move us up or down ! 
She will not know me hid beneath this cloak. 
And thus will I some airy powers invoke, 
To grace her wedding and her heart to burn 
Until she refuge in, "I would return." 
But fii st I seek Ahso in the gloom, 
To tell him of his rescue from his doom. [Exit 

Scene V. Same as Scene II. 

Alseldo, Captain, Servants and Mates. 

Aheldo. Bring in the bride; [Exit Servant.] her little 
stubbornness 
Shall soon be broke. Go, meet her at the door; 



ALI80 AND ACNE, 75 

The dearest welcome to expectant bride, 
Is when she find a bridegroom at her side. 

Enter Acne, in black. 

Captain Good evening, wife, my chuck. 

Acne. If you were black, 

You might become my husband. 

Captain I'm black enough. 

Acne. I'm promised to a blacker. 

Captain. You talk in riddles; come, my ship's your kitchen. 
The sea is field and garden, the sailors cooks. 
Of whom I'm chief; there shall you make a mess, 
To serve upon a china dish; come, come. 

Acne. My husband Hves on land and sea. 

Captain And I 

Am now on land, and soon will be on sea. 

Acne. He lives upon the bottom of the sea 
And underneath the surface of the gi'ound. 

Captain. Strange puzzler \ 

Acne. I'll undo the puzzle; death. 

Black death, who Hves with worms, with skulls, and slime. 
And never shows above the land or sea, 
But long enough to grasp his victims. 
Shall become my husband, but not you. 

Captain. Here, here I've lived so long upon a ship 
I've learned to give commands, and be obeyed; 
Sit there ; I will begin no wordy strife, 
But by your side I'll stay till you're my wife. 

[Seats Her and sits by Her, 

Alseldo. Bring in the workmen. Let the dance begin. 



76 ALJSO A^^J) AGNE- 

Enter n^we Workmen. 

You men who stiuid i^odfatliers io our trees, 
And nfinie th' engrafted limbs, and educate 
Them till their heads produce; and y(ni. whose arms 
Embrace the maiden sheaves, and gird their waists; 
And you. that from the black womb of the soil, 
Midwife the marble forth, and drv, and wrap it 
Into human shape; forget your loves, 
Your several duties, and be minded here, 
To add with lively dance unto our cheer; 
For vou alone that busied ai*e with eaiih, 
Can know the good enjoyment of her mii'th. 

[The Workmen attempt to (hi m^e ami fail. 

What, thus I this is a camel dance: 
You wade in sand ; your lubber heads are heavy ; 
Here take your place, and di'ink to make them light; 
You rather spoil than grace our feast to-night. 

[Tfie Work-men ai^e seated. 

Oo, cjill the sailoi"s; when the shore is dai'k 
The sea is tittest for a gala bju'k. 

Enter f^oim' Sailors. 

You sailoi*s, whom the maid Terpsichore 
Accompanies upon the rojmng sea. 
And teaches to forget th' engulting brine. 
By dance on deck in tenderest moonshine. 
W iuA-ite you here to join your lively dance. 
And thus oiu' wilhng spiiits to entrance ; 
Oive us light rolls and turns, and at the sight, 
IVe dream we lie embraced of Amphitrite. 

[The Siiilors dance awkuxirdly. 



ALIHO AND ACNE. 77 

Were this the only pleasure of the salt, 

I would prefer to sleep in some earth vault 

Than leave the land; here, find a suiting place 

And let the dancing wine your lack of dance replace. 

[ The Sailors are seated. 
One other preparation has been made ; 
If this should fail some cunning has been played; 
Go, bring the gypsy and her singing girl, 
And while one times it let the other whirl. 

Enter Gypsy Woman and Girl. 

Come you, that migrate in a wild goose chase, 
And ply your shaky trade from place to place, 
Who bear no rule, as other men of earth. 
Invent us what, to waken up our mirth. 

[ The Girl looks sorrowfully at Acne^ 

Gypsy Woman. When the creased palm is cold, 
I am sure to get no gold ; 
When the quick beneath the nail, 
Brazens, blushes, or grows pale, 
Then I know the heart is mild. 
To pity me and feed my child; 
When I pluck from out the crown 
Of king or wretch, of wise or clown, 
A barbed hair and rub it well. 
His future and his past I tell; 
Now nor hair nor palm I hold. 
Give me first a coin of gold. 

AUiddo. This is a beggar song; a witch song; out! 
I'll hear no more of it; there's in the air 
Some foul malaria, that's jaundiced them. 
We'll hear the girl; wdtch, can your daughter sing? 



W AIJSO Ayn ACNE. 

(?j//>vS\V Woman. She can if she will, but we aro free, 
FTiMu iTiidlo to i^ravo. both ho and sbo; 
If hor vou would hotu* ask her, not me. 

Alftt'liio. Oonio. girl, suig' us a simil;". a tripping song. 
(h/i.m/ Oirl. Barefoot about the broad wav I wander. 

Ho e ho e ho; 
Now 1 pjvss hither and now pjiiw vonder, 

Ho ho e ho; 
Onee fn^in beneath my straw hat's brim, 

Ho e ho e ho, 
8nw 1 a youth, and I called to him, 

Ho e ho e ho; 
Over the way he eiuue to me. 

Ho e ho ho. 
The heilge thorns about I no more did see, 

\io e ho e ho; 

Now he has gone and my feet are sore, 
Ho e ho e ho. 

Lady 1 pity thy sorrow the more. 

Ho e ho e ho. 

Al^ido. This is a wi*etched song, a funeral song. 

Gi/i.\<ij Woman. You asked her for her tripping tones, 
And lively metres measui"e moans. 

--hvit-. 1 think it was a very pleasing song; 
I tlifuik tliee, gypsy girl. 

Alm'ido. It is your eloak. 

Your gloomy cloiik, that dc^s it; it drips of dumps. 
And all have grown wet fivm it; I'll have it ot^* thee; 
But tu*st the feast and wine I I should have thought, 
Before a fejist no mirth was ever brought 

[Cutiain talis on the pnyaraiion. 



A/JH(J AM) ACINIC. 79 

HcEME VL A darhificA JUf/ra. Anutj. 

AliHfj. Hark, who rjomeH ! uow \in\(: I Ijopod in vain, 
Or JH ihJH H^jme Uj^nriirig for i\i<: \)<'MAir'f 

WIjo arc you V 

Nfipf/iJ/n.fi. I corrjf-,, y^c not afraid- 

AU^,o. I krjow yr>ijr voioxi] you arri the dwarf; what raeana 
ThJH (^arbV before J saw you in the woods 
r }joard your voice; I -'liTu a. prisoner 
I tJiink; HU}>poHe mo, on*;; l}j<;n, havr; yoii power 
And pity, ijolp nut out. 

Neptun/i. I crjmc t/> frc<; you, 
A rjd Hand you fronj tho i>>larifL 

Alwf. Heaven }>e prainf^d I 

'I'licra waK a certain, — 

Nfpf/u/K:. W'ouJd yoa CBcape, 

l''<)ii/<-X }jer. 

AliHo. You Hpeak in rnyKtfiry. 

N<q)turt/i. Much would I tell you, liear me quietly: 
You recoj.ajize my voice, hut not my form, 
And well, for one remainn the name, the other 
HiiH been chanj^ed; do you rernernV>er still 
Th' encliiinted island with the many cliarrris, 
Thfj sliip and robber boat, the cajiture, diase, 
TJje Hiorrn, the Bailor, that carrje up tfj you, 
(iave you a {garment when they cast you out, 
And said, "take this, go quietly, 
Be not afraid," — you lost it in the sea, — 
I say do you remember thr^e, or has 
Thin love expelled all other memory? 
And in lh^, H*;a,-- wlmt I uaxn, do you not think 



80 ALISO AND ACNE. 

That more than wind or wave helped you ashore ? 
What one dropped out ^ith not a single spar 
Could ride such waves ? is this before your mind ? 
I'd have it clear ? 

Alt so. O, heaven \ 

What spell is this about to break, what dream 
Of pain, and love and joy? O, could our dreams 
Leave us their better part ! speak, man, speak quick. 
And I will stretch and gape and waken up, 
And hve to bless the night, and curse the sun, 
The one for love, the other for its death; 
What you have said I know too w^ell, too well. 

Neptune. Be calm; I have not told 3'ou all; thus much 
Is not a dream: you sailed upon the sea, 
From north to south; you fought with cannibals; 
You saw the inHamed throat of the volcano; 
You came to the dehghtful island; this 
Is stiff reality; from there, — 

Aliso. O, would it were reversed: the first all aii*. 
The rest all solid substance ! I am bound 
By some enchantment, charmed by some sleek serpent, 
Till I love the charm. O man ! O ghost ! 
Who ai'e you ? where am I ? what is this heavenly maid ? 
Are these chains gossamers ? 

Neptune. From there, — the island^ — 

I must tell you first that there are powers 
That rule above the heads of mortal men. 
And one of these am I ; for man to ask 
Of these a reason for their acts is f oUy, 
And to reproach them is a blasphemy; 
Know then, I have created here this island; 
It is a bubble that will soon be pricked. 
For my own piu'pose I have brought you here, 
SuiTOunded you with danger, and will save vou. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 81 

Ali^o . By heaven, your promises but anger me. 
Is't thus you v/riggle round the point, or is a maid, 
A love, too Kght a portion of a dream 
To be recounted ? 

Neptune. Of her I will not speak. 

Alko. Then leave me. Could I untwist these manacles, — 

Neptune. O man, you are a weak and captured fly; 
And were you fi'ee, a breath of mine would whirl you 
Like a shriveled hair; and were you master 
Over me, another hour would sink you 
With this island in the sea; the maid 
Would perish too, — 

Ali^o. O, I 'will listen to you; 

Speak on, I will be quiet: tell me what's dream. 
What's thought, what's he, what's truth, tell on, tell on. 

Neptune. Now mark me clearly; there is here one boat, 
One little bark canoe, that like a ball sealed up, 
Can float the waves; this boat shall bear you. 
When an hour has passed, safe to your kingdom. 

Aliso. Man, if you have ensnared me in your web, 
Its parts should hold together; who are you? 
What means this sombre cloak ? the mangled members 
Even of a dream some hgament 
Should bind in reason; do not answer me 
As once before, with some ear-tickling rhyme, 
That like an echo, leads away from truth, 
Deceives and cheats the listener. Who are you ? 

Neptune. I will not deceive you longer. I am he 
That rules the sea, creating and destroying 
Islands, shores and continents; and those 
Who know me best, call me the varier, 
My acts all whimsical, my reason folly. 



82 ALISO A^^n ACNE. 

Aliso. Are you that Neptune, whom the sailors fear, 
And whom I do beheve no moro exists, 
Than does the famed w4nd saihng- nautihis ? 

Neptune. That is my name. 

Aliso. And you're the mighty power, 

That has begot this ishind ? 

Neptune. I am; audit shall sink, another hour, — 

Aliso. And w4ien it sinks, you say there is a boat? — 

Neptune. One boat, and when I send for you, 
Come quickly to the shore, where iii*st you found the maid. 
Now must I leaye you here, and when I send 
Obey, and come at once. 

Aliso. In truth I am at fault, and knoAy not whether 
To laugh outright and in your yery face, 
Or nijxke a doleful countenance. 
And with the contract wTinkles of my brow, 
So put a dismjil face on the al^air. 
I'm sure the whitle's a dream; ho, ho! ho, there ! 

Neptune AYliat are you calling, man? 

Aliso. I'd wake the captain 

Of my vessel; tell him I'm in a nightmiu-e; 
That post does cramp my knee; [Pointing Neptune, 

I'd haye it out, 
Though the very cabin f;ill; yet hold! 
I see a way : was I not in the wood, 
And in a dream, and yet it did not break; 
This is the second, and fi'om it I can see 
Tlr entire lii-st, thus are our dreiuns: 
The tirst a semblance of redity so real 
It has us Jill its own; the second 
Brings a contrast with the first, is less a dream, 
And at the third the swift progression ends, 
And we awake to find them brain ferment, 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 83 

Or true forewarning prophecies ; come, sea-god, 
Show me a hoof of your sea-swimming steeds, 
Or crack your whip, or pouch your Hps to blow 
Your mussel trumpet, and I will believe you; 
If not, — 

Neptune. The gods that hearken to the calls of men, 
Are weak; I leave you. Come when I send for you. 
Be not o'er hopeful or o'er confident. [Exit. 

Aliso. I know not where, or how, or what to think; 
To do I have no power. If 'tis a dream, 
'Tis best to act it out as though 'twere real; 
I will not break it; would I niight dream on ! 
What Avas his aim ? Why did he come to me ? 
I am not free, he told me to be ready; 
Strange charge ! methinks I'm ready; yet I believe 
His very purpose was to tell his name; 
Perhaps to frighten me, and fill my mind 
With thoughts about this island — dreadful balance: 
Each side with fear so carefully piled up, 
That both hang even; one to lose this maid 
And gain escape ; O, weight too cheap to buy ! 
O, mix of ore and gold inseparable. 
That one destroys the other's worth, 
And both, by reason of their mixture, naught ! 
Again, that all's a dream; are dreams so circumstantial 
And so nicely balanced ? here to waken 
Is t'escape this web of difficulty. 
And leave a realm of darkness brightened 
Brighter than the sun by this one maid. 
The other ors I will not weigh; why should I ? 
The}' are too black, too mixed : one death. 
One loss of this sweet love, no ! from it all 
I will have hoj^e, for I have never yet 



84 ALISO AND ACNE. 

Seen difficulty's dark so deep and thick, 

That some crack did not let the light creep in.. 

[Curtain falls. 

Scene VII. Same as Scene V. The Midst of the Feast. Per- 
sons, the same. 

Enter Neptune, unobserved. 

Alseldo. The priest delays; he should be here e'er this; 
He soon will make us merry; some there are 
So skilled in arts, that hide beneath a cloak, 
That they can bridle the swift-flying airs, 
And in the chariot of darkness ride 
Along the smoothed highway of the earth, 
The sun their lackey, and the moon their lantern. 
The stars the sparks struck from their horses' feet. 
And in their magic race call out the spirits 
For a light escort, and give us such 
A merry ride, as will forever jolt 

And shake and spoil our dumps, and dump them out, 
And one of these is this same very priest. 

Neptune. [Aside.'^\ I'll call him spirits of another sort 
Before I leave him. Here am I, a priest, 
Brought hither to perform a ceremony, 
But come with full intent to spoil the same 
And execute one of another kind; 
I would so near this knot to certainty, 
That its appearance shall befright the bride, 
Until, despairing, she shall say the wish 
To be a nymph again; then should she know me? 
It were better not; then would she seek 
With supplications to unhinge my plan; 
Yet must she know where lies her one escape; 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 85 

I have 't : I'll call the spirit Thaliel; 

She shall the missing bridesmaid represent, 

And whisper to her constantly the words, 

*' Become a nymph, wish for your spring again;" 

This will I do, then call some apparition, 

IFright this baulky cajDtain, save Ahso, 

And it ail goes well. [Enters among the rest 

Alseldo. We wait for you. 

You know the purpose why I send for you : 
To use your holy strings and wedlock here 
This maid and this much traveled captain, 
In a knot that only fateful scissors can uncut; 
But boys begin to eat 

As soon as hungry; we would not thus spoil 
The good anticipation by much haste, 
And first we seek to prelude with our mirth 
This sober song o1 marriage; find what ways 
May seem to you best leading to this end, 
And show us these; but let them crook, meander, 
AVander among flowers and resting places; 
Thus win you please us best, for tiU the dawn 
We would the mirthful maiTiage linger on. 

Neptune. Those mii-ths are merriest, that are quickesi 
done ; 
Thus contradictions in your speech are shown: 
You charge me here to hold away the birth 
Of that from which alone can ripen mirth. 

Alseldo . Then hold your course and quiet we remain. 
And trust into your hands our guiding rein. 

Neptune. It is your wiU this maid should wed ? 

Alseldo. It is. 

Neptune. And this the husband? 

Alseldo. The same. 



86 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

Neptune. But this, the bride 
Should have some bridesmaid at her side; 
If your preparing has this fact o'er gone, 
I can with but a word call hither one. 

Alseldo. Do as you will. 

[Neptune calls Thaliel, who enters, approaches him, 
then at his beck goes to Acne, and ivhispers to hrr. 

Ac7ie. O go, beseech his aid. 

Thaliel. It cannot be; this is your only hope. 

Neptune. I have some light assistants near at hand; 
Most worthy captain, if you here will stand, 
And bind your fingers as your hearts are bound, 
111 call them hither at a tinkling sound, 
To bless the j^lanting of this hopeful spring. 
With fruits and grains of Autumn harvesting. 

[TJiey rise. 

Thaliel. O, nymph, remember that there is one w^ay 
And only one. 

Acne. O, death! O, hateful wedding! . 

Neptune. The ceremony done then mirth will come; 
But 'tis a saying old, and tried and true, 
That all the more is all the merrier ; 
Then will I call some naiads, nymphs and sprites. 
To fill this emptiness and show us sights. 

Thaliel. Bemember. 

Acne. No, forget ! I will forget. 

Neptune. You nymphs, whose hearts are cool as Summer 
springs, 
That beat their water through sand openings, 
Whose faces fiect each look off through the sky 
"WTien cast upon them by a loving eye. 
Untouched by love your hearts are ripe for mirth, 
Bewreathe yourselves, and from your beds come forth. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 87 

Enter Nymphs with Black Veils. 

What, have you lain so long upon the soil, 
Your flowing tresses thus to mud and spoil ? 

Acne. O, this is pain, I will not be a nymiDh. 

Neptune. You, naiads, that inhabit the cool brooks, 
And greet the comer with soft bopeep looks, 
And with mild whispered welcomes give him seat 
Upon some grassy bench in shade retreat, 
And bathe his feet, and wipe them with your hair, 
Then form a double with your neighbor, air. 
And sing duets until you charm his sleep. 
You shall not now your modest dwellings keep; 
Come forth, I call, who have the greatest power 
O'er brookside dwellers, and I call this hour. 

Ente?' Naiads in Black 

Acne. I thank them for their gentle sympathy, 
But their cool presence chills me. 

Neptune. You nereids, that sport within the sea. 
And promenade on lawns of velvet moss, 
And, habited in blue with hats of foam, 
Ride races on the green sea dolphin's back, 
Come leave your grottoes merges, meads, and j^lats, 
And join us here in dance and Hymen's song. 

Enter Nereids in Sombre Colors. 

It seems that all earth's dwellers have conspired, 
Our mirth shall be alone by black enfired. 
One other caste of water habitants 
I have j^erforce to call from out their haunts: 
You river-gods, whose hair, like lions' manes. 



88 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

Trails over your broad shoulders' rich demesnes, 

"Who, fearing breaches of your sea-joint ties, 

Watch from the river mouths your boundaries. 

And stir and load the passing waters full. 

To build your bulwarks of alluvial, 

Who, bold and coward, on 3'our low beds hide, 

To chase or tly the oft recurring tide. 

Come forth; the nymphs await to take j^our arms, 

And flatter and beguile you with their charms. 

Enter River-Gods. 

Acne. O, have the waters of the earth and sea, 
Come forth to view my sorrow ? 

Thaliel. These are your sisters, 

Cousins, uncles and dear relatives 
Come here to rescue you, and lead you home. 

Acne. I cannot go; strange power, the priest has on them! 

Neptune. We next need Hymen; I will call him here; 
Thou, Hymen, rioter in wedding cheer. 
Usurper of the quiet reign of sleep. 
Thou god, whose scattered visitations keep 
The youth in longing for thy next return. 
The old regTetting thy last visit gone. 
Come, with thy rings, thy kisses and thy tears, 
Th}^ palpitating heart of hopes and fears, 
And while thou bindest I will call the air. 
To sing a song, and bless the bridal pair. 

Enter Hymen. 

Thou air, that hidest in thy breast the dew. 
Sweet pap the hungry gTound sucks out at night. 
Thou art the mother and the nurse of earth, 



ALISO AND ACNE. 89 

Dost know her character and judge her worth, 
Embrace her blessings in a close bound word, 
And let them from thy spirit's tongue be heard. 

Acne. O, I will tui-n his blessings all to hes. 

Thaliel. Remember, but a word can stop this play. 

Ariel. [^Invisible ] I, who hold within my hand 
All the hght that flies the land. 
Cannot sing of blessings' store, 
"WTiile my heart with pain is sore; 
Following the tracks of light. 
When I loosed him in his flight, 
On the shore I stopped and stood. 
Where the sand was red with blood; 
Call a spirit from elsewhere, 
To sing the blessings of the air. 

Neptune. These words are nothings; it will soon be done, 
For with a word I will pronounce you one. 
Beseech you, H^nnen. [Hymen approaches with the Ring. 

[Thaliel rushes up to Neptune. 

Thaliel. O, stop I a knife ! she took it from her breast, 
And whispered to me, " this will give me rest; " 
O, O ! I fear she'll plunge it in her heart. 

Neptune. Then it has failed. The last way must be tried; 
Go, stand by her again; her love shall grow 
Until it burst, love must itself undo. [Distant thunder. 

Some other spirits are still necessary. 
And that with haste; the morning is approaching; 
Sing, sing. 

Galiel. [Invi^le.'] E'er the heavens with morning glow 
Will the sea this isle o'erflow. 

Captain. Heaven! O heaven! the voice! the very same! 

Galiel. Not a spot will land or shore 
Show above the sea waves hoar. 



90 ALI80 AND ACNE. . 

Captain. The voice ! do 3'OU hear it? what is this man? 
what sorcerer'? what juggler? what ghost air is this? 

Galiel. Vulcan's fire and heaven's thunder 
Soon will spread yoiu* eyes in w« aider. 

Captain. What prophecy is this? AVliat, Yulcan's fire! 
thunder ! the isle shall fall ! if I could feel the ship's deck 
under me ! there is no safety on the land; it's all waiting to 
go down. [A flash of colored fire. Thunder. 

It comes; did you see that fire? that was no lightning, it 
smells of sulphur. 

Neptune. Thou pale-faced Hecate, mistress mother witch, 
Whose favorite novel is the wayside ditch, 
Wherein thou readest by the moon's eclipse 
Sti'ange tjiles of ghostly and land sailing ships, 
W^itli living passengers of frogs and snails, 
Of lizard sailors spreading dock leaf sails, 
Of salannmder fi-eight, and toads' toe claws, 
And tadpoles' teeth insei't in serpent jaws. 
Come hither, leave thy interesting tale, 
And show us here thy visage. 

Captain. What man is this ? this priest has come up from 
the lower regions. 

Neptune. She does not come. 
I court thy presence with more i)leasiiig tone : 
Come thou, that wanderest in the night alone, 
Along the wayside to the three forked roads, 
To sweep their delta for its dusty loads, 
Each hoimd that scents thee, does behowl thy breath, 
And whine and wail an augiuy of death. 
Come hither. 



ALI80 AND ACNB. 91 

Enter Hecate. 

Captain. O heaven ! O ! O ! [Exit. 

Aheldo. What have you done? pricHt! priest! this goeg 

too far. 
Neptune. Go bring him back and soon the work is done. 
Aheldo. I'll bring him; but you have your mark o'er- 
stepped. [Exit. 

Neptune. Quick, quick! 

Enter Galiel and Ariel. 
Go lead him off. [Exit Galiel. 

Go fetch Aliso. [Exit Ariel. 
[ Thunder.. 
The time approaches. Now have I that to do, 
That were I heathen would disgrace the name: 
To feed on love with its most fatty fuel, 
That thus it may the sooner be burnt out; 
A painful task but he who sees the end, 
Must make all middles to his purpose bend. 

Enter Aliso. 

Come hither, take her hand; I now unite 

In happy wedlock this much worried two, 

And would their worriment were only through! 

Why do you wait ? here, here ! what are you stiff, 

As well as speechless? [Joins their hands^ 

Hymen be their priest; 
But let thy words be few as midday stars. 

Hymen. I would not journey with o'er reaching haste 
That lames herself, and turns her speed to waste. 

[Neptune turns aside in thowjht and takes no inter- 
est in what follows. 



;93 ALISO AND ACNE. 

Hymen. Wedlocked by the god of marriage, 
Tou can never know miscarriage; 
I alone to death and fate, 
Yield myself subordinate; 
Only this be cause for fear; 
"When fateful death shall slowly near, 
Know then that my power is gone, 
Here do I pronounce you one. 

Acne. O joy ! 

Aliso. Dear earth ! 

[ They embrace. Aeneas cloak foils off and discloses 
her dressed as a Bride. The nymphs take up 
the cloak, lay aside their black and sing. 

Chorus of Nymphs. Sj^rings once dark with sorrow loam, 
^ow are white with joyful foam. 

[The Nymphs pass on. Neptune disappearti and 
immediately returns as the Ocean God un,th his 
Trident, and stands as before. A Naiad sings. 

Naiad. See the ruler of the ocean, 
Hasten we to show devotion. 

[ The Naiads pass by Neptune and bow, followed by 
the Nymphs, Nereids, River Gods, and Thaliel, 
who all put off their black. The scene brightens. 
The Sailors sing. The Workmen join the prom- 
enade around Aliso and Acne, who stand em- 
braced. The Gypsy Woman beats a Bell. The 
Gypsy Girl dances. Galiel, Ariel and Thaliel, 
opposite Neptune, crouch down in fear. A Flash 
of Lightning and Clap of Thunder brings silence. 
Aliso perceives and approaches Neptune. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 9S 

Aliso. O, Neptune, Neptune, I thank thee. 
Acne. [Perceiving Neptune.'] O death ! O death ! 

[Acne sinks down. Aliso stands speechless. Thunder^ 

Neptune. The time is here. 
This is no thunder of a passing storm; 
ThaHel, thou hast performed my bidding: 
These are the chariot wheels of mighty Jove, 
Approaching to behold the closing scene. 
O, all is fixed in fate unchangeable. 
Take up the maid, and bear her to the shore; 
The place I have before appointed thee. 
Fear not the wind, the thunder or the fire. 
What waits thee further shall be there made known. 

[Aliso raises Acne, and leads her away. The Stage 
becomes gradually dark and empty. Neptune re- 
mains alone. 

Neptune. A thought, thus fastened on a Summer day 
Is followed out to fearful consequences. 
Immortal mTiiph, had I not called thee forth ! 
Why do I fear ? what are these dire results ? 
Are men so weak, this little play of grief 
And joy alternate can o'er master them ? 
The small help planted for a wanderer 
Has grown into this overshading tree. 
The light foreseeing spirits, that I called, 
Have changed their quarrels to confederate sighs; 
It must be ended as it was begun, 
Yet I foresee sad sequence e'er 'tis done. [Exit. 



ALISO AND A ONE. 



ACT V. 



By the Nymph's Grotto. Dark. Occasional Lightning, 

Neptune seated. 

Enter Puck. 

Puck. Here lie is, come follow after, 
"We will soon replenisli laughter. 

Enter Fairies. 

Hist, the churl has testy grown, 

And sits to meditate alone ; 

Shall we stir his ponderation ? 

Hark, I hear his lungs' inflation. [They walk around him 

IBymy thumb, I die to-morrow, 

If he does not breathe of sorrow; 

I have sworn by waves of styx, 

A grieving man I will not nix. 

March away with solemn tread, 

'The one that touches him is dead. 

I will find another sjoort, 

E'er the daylight us shall sort: 

Hide will I the sway backed mare, 

IBend her bones their utmost bear. 

Plant a wattle upon the shoat. 

And stretch the mooly's dew-lapped throat, 

Graft another wart or two, 

TJpon her lip to make them show; 

Roach the infant's cow-hcked hair, 

But leave a burdened man of care. 

Fairies, slowly out begone; 

JLeft foot, straw foot, one, two, one. [Exeunt. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 95 

Neptune. Polite and gentlemanly Puck, I thank thee; 
My judgment has conceived new character 
Of thee ; I thought to sink thee with thy troupe , 
But I am glad thou and the fairies canst, 
Upon a cluster of foam bubbles, float 
The boisterous waves; I'll send thee wafty winds, 
And bear thee to the distant world of men, 
Where thou may'st ply thy bandit trade on idlers. 

Enter Aliso and Acne. 

Aliso. 'Twas here I found you was it not, dear wife ? — 
This is the tongue's best word ; — nay, do not fear. 
This is the place appointed ; here I should meet him. 
Do not shiver at the stormy sea, 
Nor shrink back at the darkness, or the lightning. 
What are these to us ? 1 would tell thee, 
How my imagination has o'er leaped them all, 
And sped to Greece, to see thee there enthroned, 
And ruling by my side, thyself the aim 
Of all my people's blessings and my own. 
The ripest day hangs on my father's tree; ^ 

That day when I shall lead thee to his stool, 
And ask his blessing on thy head and mine. 

Acne. I cannot tell you, — O 'tis not the darkness, 
Or tbe lightning, or the sea, or storm, 
That make me fear; what, who, what man is this ? 

Neptune. Nymph, you know me, though you would not 
know me. 

[A Mountain in the background breaks out with a 
Light Volcanic Flame. 
When you see me you sink down or shudder. 
When you should but smile and say, ' ' the play is ending." 



96 ALISO AND ACNE. 

We meet here on the very moirusnt: the fire 
Is breaking from the mountain; wherf it rises, 
Flashes, and dies out, this land will sink. 
I did expect to find a boat bound here; 
It comes ; 

[_A small boat comes along the shore; in it Thalid. 
She lands the boat, and earit 

and I am glad it happens thus, 
For your dilemma you can this wa}' see . 

Acne. Come, let us leave, or if you must, away 
And leave me here. 

Aliso. Nay, do not fear; — 

Man, leave your hollow tones and mystic words, 
Nor ape the supernatural; here stands 
A gentle-heai'ted woman in the night time; 
Be circumspect, and tell us carefully 
Your good direction for our quick escape . 

Neptune. When I speak, — 

Acne. O! O! his voice ! come quick. 

Aliso. Now am I on the eve of happiness: 
Dear wife, when trouble comes, or dauger thickens, 
Then are the pasturing minutes of strong love. 
O, I can laugh at you; point out your fire. 
That punj^ plaything of a scene, make rough 
Your throat, or bristle up your hair, 
Or speak with direful mystery, what is it 
Now to me ? each feai* it wakens in her 
Tender soul gives newer cause of love ; 
O, I could think, that in the door of death, 
The sweetest kiss, the tender est embrace, 
The smile most winning, and the tone most loveful, 
Could be known; then is it that the tender words 
Awake no blushes telUng lustful love ; 



ALISO AND ACNE. 97 

Dear wife, here, thank him and the fire and darkness, 
That they give me cause to put my arm about thee, 
To say soft words, to cheer thee, — 

Neptune. I do perceive a sorrow taking hold upon me; 
It must not be; what once was lixed, 
E'en in a flying thought, must be borne out; 
I must impress on them behef and fear; 
But how ? this human shape knows nothing stronger 
Than the heart's deep love ; this conquers all ; 
Before this does the majesty of kings 
Lie down a slave, and e'en divinity 
Is powerless: now, could I stretch my hair 
To radiating bands of darkness. 
Call in my eyes two scintillating stars, 
Put the loud sough and sigh of winds 
Into my mouth, move like a cloud at night 
And thus assimilate great nature's forms, 
'Twould be in vain ; what can be done 
Shall be; I take the semblance of divinity, 
And heaven, earth, sea, and fire, shall hearken me. 

[Becedef> into the darkness. 

Aliso. Here let us sit and wait the morning light. 

[She drops the knife. 
What is this ? a knife ! why, what design? 

Acne. Give it back to me; it may be 
I must wear it longer; no, you may keep it; 
I should not use it; I'm only a weak woman; 
And yet I thought to : I hid it here before, — 
Before I was to marry the sea captain; 
But I would not have used it, I am sure ; 
Not while you were Hving; I'm too cowardly. 
Too much afraid. 



98 ALISO AND ACNE. 

Aliso. Away, away such thoughts; why I must chide you; 
Here, I'll throw it in the sea; — 
No, I will keep it for you; a pleasant talc 
You can begin from it hereafter: 
How once a prince came to your island, — 
But why should I tell it now ? I'U keep the knife. 

[^Gonceals it. 

Acne. When I see him, when I hear his voice, — 
Tell me, — for sometimes merest little whims 
Have meanings in them, — I have fore time stood 
Beside a sunlit glowing waterfall; 
And as a filmy veil drew o'er the e3^e, 
And lent to nearness all the shapes of distance, 
It suddenly took on a human form ; 
And clothed in fleecy veil and glittering. 
It seemed to me to say, " Be not deceived 
With sunny brightness, or with sparkhng laughter. 
My voice is sorrow and my heart is woe." 
And there I often went, until at last 
I wove a tale : how once a nymph, that loved 
And lost her lover, to the mountain lied, 
And hid behind this stream, to spend her day 
Disguising thus her sorrow; tell me, O, tell me, 
Will you think some time, if you should walk 
Beside that stream, that you too hear her voice, 
Her tone of sorrow ? — 

Aliao. Hush, hush ! I will not listen. Here let us sit, 
Beside this trifling boat, and I will tell thee, 
To divert thy mind, that now seems bent 
On sorrow, of a truth I do suppose 
'Twould carry thee, and that's enough; 
Then let us jest a moment, and suppose 
That there were danger here, a real fire, 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 99 

Then should'st thou here embark, and I, 

Thy oarsman, would as some light dolphin float, 

And bear thee on, and thou shouldst laugh and smile, — 

No, no, you are not smiling now; come, show me. 

Acne. I cannot for thoughts, — 

Aliso. Drive them away. 

Acne. I must tell you, — 

Aliso. I cannot listen to you; 
For every tone makes me to look around, 
And clutch my fingers, knit and knot my arms, 
As though to tight away some hidden evil. 
That does set on you; [^Neptune approaches. 

and here it is. 

Neptune. [^Aside.'] How make beginning, now this love is 
fuU, 
To start it down the wane ? — I would not fright. 
Or seek with puffed up words, or heightened mien, 
To over- awe you; but would seek to give, 
With some slight mix of sorrow, my earnest meaning ' 

Whereof you know a part; what more remains 
Now hear: It nearest touches this one maid, 
Who is, I pray you mark me well, not one 
Of earthly pattern, but withal a nymph, 
Wlio to beguile a passing hour I called, 
And did bestow on her this shape and semblance, 
And gave my fullest leave and power to use, 
To wake but some breath of a passing love. 
Of danger here you seem incredulous; 
I will but tell you plainly here is danger; 
From the which I would the maiden extricate; 
But 'twas an article by us agreed. 
That this should be but at her own expression. 
Yourself can mount this boat, which is with skill 



100 ALISO AND ACNE. 

So cunningly prepared, that it can float, 
Belying thus its looks, the roughest seas. 
Thus will what was begun a merest thought, 
A hai'iuless play, all harmlessly be ended; 
Not so, the consequences are all du*e. 
Here then, I tui'n to you, and say, bethink you 
Of your spring, and that the play is done. 
Do but repeat the words, " I would retiu'n," 
And all is well. 

Acne. O, fate ! O, cruel, cruel fate ! 

AUfio. All, ha ! a ne\y turn now ! new coloring I 
Methinks I hear an unfledged adyocate, 
Slow conning with impressive face a contract: 
The said J. B. does hereby give the said, — 
Thus is it that you formulate and sign and seal 
The contracts of the heart, including 
Pro^-iso if, then so, if not, then so. 
Dear wife, here, wait; methinks that in this gloom, 
Oui' minds take fi'ight, and do deceive themselves, 
Anti think that shape of darkness is a man, 
Or better as his words would say, a god. 
'Tis laughable to right a moving shadow; 
Yet I've heai-d that devils lui'k in dai'kness; 
This shade persistently doth foUow us, 
I would make proof of its consistency; 
Await me here. [Approaches Neptune. 

Acne. O, stop ! you know not what ! 
Aliso. Sweet wife, I will but try him. 
Acne. O stay ! O stay ! 
Aliso. He has cheated and deceived me vdih. false words^ 

[Prepares to spring upon him, 
Neptune. Rash, fiery mortal, back; is it thus you tiy 
The powers that rule above j'^ou, seeking thus 



ALISO AND ACNE. 101 

With this high-minded daring, to o'erthrow 

Their fast set purposes? hark you, the gods ! 

They are approaching to behold the end. ^Ahove, Laughter. 

Listen to the slow approaching thunder. [ Thunder. 

See the flashes of the mountain's fire. [Flashes. 

Hear the shrieks of frightened superstition: [Shrieks. 

The captain, sailors and inhabitants 

Bewailing their approaching death. 

Away ! must I extend unto the limit 

Of my power, then may this monstrous pile, 

That does appear a mountain, crack its sides, 

And show my ministers, the black earth's slaves, 

Engaged here to draw from earth's deep veins 

Her minerals, to sate this fire's thirst. 

[The Mountain opens disclosing Dwarf Sj Elves, 

Gnomes, and Smiths, in Bed Light, carrying 

Buckets of Flame. 

Behold the monsters of the eager sea. 

[Monsters indistinctly seen. 

Beneath that veil of waves they reach their hands, 
To seize upon you and this falling island. 

[Aliso returns to Acne, 
I am the master of this little scene; 
Let this alone be to your minds conveyed 
By this brief spectacle, that shames my power 
With its own littleness; for should I stuff 
The god of day beneath the stool of night. 
And put the night's sick queen upon his place, 
Or thrust the diamond stars, brought down from heaven, 
In wayside holes, to simulate the eyes 
Of some low crouching vermin, and thus play 
With all the members of the universe, 



102 ALISO AND ACNE. 

'Twoiild soon be laughable, and wake derision 
And not deep respect; yet must I show thee, 
That this isle is mine ; but let this scene 
Enforce and verify my words. I now 
HaA^e tried what could be done; believe 
And find your rescue, or persist and perish. 

\^AlisOj in thought, sits down near the ivater 

Neptune. My pretty nj^mph, j^ou simulate love well. 

Acne. If this be show or seeming, what is real ? 

Neptune. Tell me, do you know what men call love ? 

Acne. To answer this is to belittle me; 
I will not answer it. 

Neptune. I would but know, 

For many say they love, and at their words 
Their siiiipering faces fiU with hallow blushes, 
And the while they think they do avow 
Some noble j)assion, the}' are all animal. 

Acne. I do not know your meaning; I have not said 
I love. 

Neptune. But will you say it? 

Acne. I will not answer. 

Neptune. Then must I put you to the proof: the proof 
Of all things in this lower world is deed; 
He, that with lusty lips says love, says naught; 
As he, that swears affection, vows a promise, 
Or doth with airy words deceive his soul, 
That craves the good, does naught; I will speak plainly: 
Would 3"ou save your lover you must lose 
His love. 

Acne. O, what ! 

Neptune. My pretty nymph, — 

Acne. Back, I am no more a child, a nymph, 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 103 

A waterfall, a plaything; speak with me 
As with a woman. 

Neptune. Then be it so; love must 
Itself undo : If he before your eyes 
Shall live another hour, it is alone 
By this, that you return to me. 
When these few moments of his thoughtful mood 
Are gone, he will come back to you with some 
New made evasion, or persist he's dreaming, 
Or find by crook or turn, some reasoned way, 
To keep belief in his own fancy's wish. 
And stay with you until it is too late. 

Acne. O, dearest, dreadful truth ! 

Neptune. When he returns 

You must have lost remembrance of him. 

Acne. O, death ! is there no other way ? 

Neptune. None, not one. 

Acne. O, fate I O, cruel fate ! 

And must I speak to him cold heartless words, 
And look a chilling smile ? 

Nejjtune. But you will not know it. 

Acne. Low reasoner ! shall I encase myself 
Against the darts of pain, when each reflection 
From my covering, doth dazzle, blind and kill 
Him whom I love ? no; better to uncase myself 
Of this weak life; I'll do 't; that is the way; 
He will return and find me dead. His kiss, — 
O, I wiU feel his kiss; his warm lips' thrill 
Will shoot across my coohng cheeks, and give them life, 
A moment's life ; then he will leave me here, — 
O, fate ! — but better than that other fate, — 
And I shall see him go, — not see him, no, 
But O, this is the way, the way. 



104 ALISO AND ACNE. 

Neptune. Not so; I have not thus, half blinded, looked it 
through : 
Is this your confidence in him that loves, 
That, like a low-born coward, he wiU shun the act 
Of sacrifice, with your example near him ? 
I think I see him, yes, first kiss your lips. 
And hang a moment o'er your face, and fly, — 
Yes, fly to find some instrument of death, 
And say, as once another lover said, 
"Sweet wife, I lie with thee to-night," 
Then put the instrument in place, 
And go to bed with thee. 

Acne. O, fearful truth ! 

O, that this love were weaker! true, 'tis true; 
0, heartless truth ! O, woful, wretched truth ! 
I must; O, death ! O, tender, gentle death! 
O, mother death ! not you, not even you ! 
O, heartless, cruel ! O, this face must smile, 
This tongue must babble on, this hollow breast 
Must wave, O, cursed face, and tongue and breast. 
That must so bitterly tell lies to him ! 
rU pierce my cheeks; one spot, one single spot, 
Shall tell the truth, and say, " I lie, I love, 
I could not die, O, save thyself for me." 

Neptune. It is a bitter play. 

Acne. Speak not this word again; 
All is a play, if this is one : the world, 
The mighty world, is but one bowling ball 
Thrown at a mouse, and left to roU unnoticed. 
O love, the awnings, that leaned out towards thee, 
Cast fearful cooling shadows on my heai-t; 
Now would I sit beneath them, were they rocks. 
O love, that woke my sleeping womanhood. 



ALISO AND ACNE. 105 

Then left me here to die ! O no, not death, 
O, mix of thought ! O, strife of soul ! O ! O ! 

Neptune. Sure, it doth affect me. 

Acne. I'll think again how it will be : he will return. 
And say, " dear wife," — O, word, that chokes my thought ! 
" I have considered well: were I to leave thee, — 
No, no, I will not think of this; come sit, 
And wait, and when the sea flows in, O, joy ! 
I will enfold thee in my arms, we sink. 
There are soft beds of moss below, what matter 
If our sleep be long, we lie together," — 
O, death ! and I ? — shall prattle, as an infant, 
In his face, his face, his face; until 
His blood, that beats but loving me. 
Shall curdle, and grow stiff and cold with hate. 
O, worse than worsest death ! 0,0! 0,0! 
Then will he curse me, O, sweetest curses from those lips I 

love! 
And leave me, — act, O act I long for, seek and loathe ! 

Neptune. You must be quick, he moves. 

Acne. And I must say I would again be a cold-hearted 
woman, 
The merest nymph; I must control myself. 
And say farewell; not even this, not one 
Farewell, though I could put m}^ hand in his ! 
O, you, who play thus with the hearts of men, 
Say for me my farewell : say here I kneeled. 
Show him this place, then call to him across 
The wave, " fareweU, she loved, she loved;'' not this, not 

this; — 
I must bethink myseK, not even this, 
Poor, sickly, comfort can I have. O, woman, 
That in the frailest form, encloses lions, 



106 ALISO AND A CNE. 

Fierce wild beasts of power, this is your trial, 

Tins is your sacrilice. I will be ctxliii, 

Put back 111}^ liair, how shall I place my hands 

To please him best, when he shall call me false 

And pei-jured, heartless, cold, deceiying ? death ! O, death ! 

Here I will sit; no, I will stand; 

Perhaps my head may fall upon his breast. 

He wakens, he comes; O, Neptune ! Neptune ! 

O, fiercest, fiery play ! O, hateful life ! 

O, weaiy, dreary hfe, that I nuist say, — 

Not say alone, must Ayish, to liye again ! 

O, sirring, O cursed Neptune, I would, 

I must, I would return to thee again. 

Neptune. I do almost think curses of myself; 
Yet this wa}^ reason points her mighty finger. 
I would almost I had not started it. 
Sure they do wrench me with their little words; 
But now 't must end all well. He comes. I must 
With words make stiU more speaking this, her action. 

Aliw. Dear wife, I have considered well; or no. 
Not well or poorty; consideration lies not here; 
I haye but held my head upon my hands, 
And thought one single minute of ni}^ father 
And my kingdom and of thee. 
But thou hast the oyer-balance, dost outweigh; 
I wiU not go, nor wiU I lieai- these tales, 
Nor once be frightened at their doleful sounds. 
Some pufty scarecrow tries to frighten us; 
But all the world is nothing to thy loye, — 
Methinks you loye me, — say it once, dear wife ; 
Some way the word was stubborn to our li2)s, 
And has not crossed them yet, and this did please me; 
Words are but weakeners; but strange our moods ! 



ALISO AND ACNE. lOT 

For what we know full well, and Juubt no more 

Tlian that the air we breathe is even air, 

We sometimes wish to hear, and do delight in; 

Tell me a moment now, thou lovest me ; 

Say it simply, that we may but hear 

How httle is its sound beside our love. 

Acne. The willow, the brook and the sucking bee,— 
Alim. What, wife, dear wife, is this your answer ? 
Acne. The willow's shade 

From the sun above, 
Where the brooklet j)layed, 
Is the spot I love. 

Aliso. What words are these? what babble at this mo- 
ment? 
CaQ you thus play with me ? 

O, you would but show me that you ai'e not frightened; 
Well, this is well; this fire is nothing, for our love is all; 
But your hand feels strangely cold and limp; 
What can it mean ? what can it mean? 

Acne. Once heard I speak of hearts, of human hearts; 
'Twas on a Summer day, — 

AUho. O what ! O torture ! 

Neptune. [_Amle.'] It works upon him; yet he must not. 
think 
This be some wandering of mind, some weakness. 
But must a single moment think her 
A false-hearted woman. I do bewail the thought, 
That brought me to this pass; yet must I do it, 
E'en though I spend a year in cursing me 
To bring me satisfaction. — She has forgot you. 

AUho. O, cursed thought! O, speak. 

Neptune. This was a play agreed upon; 'tis done. 



108 ALISO AND ACNE. 

The object is attained, your love is gained, 
There is no more, and she forgets you. 

Aliso. O, fearful words ! O, cutting, piercing words ! 
O, I was strong, and felt myself ensnared, 
Most foolishly entrapped, and as the lion, 
I might have said unto the passing mouse, 
•*My little fellow, stop; 'tis true I'm large, 
And strong, and could these twine strings snap, 
But they're so many, come, gnaw me out;" 
But now, O now I am a sickly swallow 
Drowning in the sea. Say 'tis not true; 
Deny his words; what, cold and lifeless still? 

Neptune. What shall I say? your sorrow reaches me; 
Perhaps 'twas wrong; I'll not extenuate; 
Would 'twere not so ! perhaps if she had loved, 
Had truly loved, perhaps, — enough, your fate, — 
.Say 'tis your fate ; forget, and in this boat, — 

Aliso. [Shoves off the Boat, which disappearn ~\ It is the last 
proof, that I scorn his words. 
Thus have I cut my moorings fi'om the world, 
.And anchored fast to thee. 

Neptune. What have you done ? 

Now all the gods of heaven cannot save you. 
What motive have I now ? my rein of power 
Is shpped, and passion seizes the unguiding bit. 
Now is my purpose foiled, O, woe the thought ! 
The best is by its excellence tripped up. 
O, woful play, that tries the hearts of men ! 
Is there no wa}^? I must bethink me well. 

Aliso. Here, lean your head upon my breast, dear wife; 
It was a jest to ask your love's confession; 
See, I trust j^ou all, and know you love me. 

Acne. I know not love, O yes ! I heard of hearts; 



ALI80 AND AVNE. 109' 

It was a spring; I lay and watched the waves, — 
Aliso. Then it is true ; O, cursed, wretched soul ! 

True ! what is that's true ? true that I found you, 

A hght-hearted maid upon the shore; 

True, that you pitied my misfortuned state, 

Then heard my tales, and did dehght in them; 

So much is time, yes more : you sought to aid, 

Spoke mild, looked even love's beginnings 

From your eyes; true that I saw, and first 

I wondered at your way, thought it deception. 

Too smooth to trust, and then beheved; believed. 

No more, that dew was poisoned, moonlight witched, 

And friendship rotten; that the world was pure, 

As your sweet hfe; 'tis true I loved; 'tis true 

I thought you did return that love; — 

O, cursed lie ! 'tis true it was a lie ; 

Say is this true ? be thou its testifier. 

No word ! then let me tell thee of thy lie; — 

O, word, that I have spoke upon thy face. 

That but an hour ago, no, not an hour, 

"Was my bright star, my light, my beacon light; — 

I say it was a wrecker's luring flame. 

"Was this the salvage, that thou wouldst have gained, 

To be denounced a liar by Hps that love thee — 

Yes ! that love thee still ! here lay thy head, 

And let me whisper in thy ear thy lie. 

Neptune. 'Tis sad to part them, — but a minute more, — 

He holds her head, — 

Aliso, Sweet pretty dear, you did dissemble well; 

Most excellent ! I could have sworn 'twas love, 

All genuine; how prettily you said 

Farewell, and worked your hands, said " stay a little," — 

Heaven ! and in your secret soul were saying, 



110 ALI80 AND ACNE. 

" See, it works, be feels, well done ! well done ! 
And I could swear yom* lips have now on tliem 
That innocence that heaven calls perjury. 
And then, O finest touch of all ! last shade ! 
Most delicate ! you hid this senseless knife. 
That had it but a voice, had cried, " for shame," 
And showed it me, and said, O fool, O fool, 
I was, O dupe, — and said, " I thought to use it, 
^ut no, I'm weak, 

I'm only a weak woman, not while your living," — 
My memory runs mad, and froths refusing 
To remouth your words; weak woman, 
JBy heaven, such weakness is the strength of devils. 
Once more, I pray thee, let me kiss thy hps; 
I'll say they're sweet, and were not made to he, 
Deceive, and then exult. 

Neptune. Come, you must leave her. 

Aliso. One more embrace, so sweet, so tender ! 
One smile, so winning ! one kiss, so loveful 
And so damned ! [^Stabs her']. There lie, thou falsehood. 
Thou young life of fairest seeming, and of 
J'oulest substance ; yet I will not curse thee, 
Though the world is fairer that thy hght is out; 
And though my life be hollowed as the tree, 
That feeds the fragrant gnawing sweet knot 
To its heart and dies. \_Goes to the shore.'] Alone ! Alone ! 
My father, in a land alone I die. 

could'st thou hear my voice ! across the sea 

1 cry, " Alone, deceived, a murderer and lost. 

Neptune. O woe! O woe ! now all go wrong; dead, dead! 
My pretty nymph ! my child ! O woe the day 1 
O death, unnatural, quick unforeseen ! 
O, had I seen his thought, and not his action ! 



ALISO AND ACNE. Ill 

Here he held her head, my innocent, — 

Aliao. Call her thy fair demon, thy jDoisoned flower, 
Call her not innocent 

Neptune. She was dear nature's child. 

Aliso. Her life a lie. 

Neptune. No truth so true as she. 

Aliao. That lent herself to be thy minion! 
O, charms thus used are iron's poisoned rust 
Enameled ! thus to feign, to seem to love, — O ! O ! 

Neptune. No love so deep as hers. 

Aliso. Now, curse thee, liar, 

Thou saidst it was a play. 

Neptune. O, play of love. 

Of life, all true, all wrong ! 

Alim. What play of love ? 

Didst thou not say and she forgets you ? 

Nejjtune. O, dupe ! O, doubly duped ! she must, she loved, 
She sacrificed herself, her love, to save thee. 

Aliso. Were't not thy words are choked with sorrow, 
I would attempt to stop the utterance of thy throat, 
That mingles ah' and lies. 

Neptune. Here, here, she stood 

While you were pondering with hanging head, 
And here she died, not there, for here she said, 
**I die in life, I sacrifice myself for thee;" 
Then said farewell, and looked at thee, and strove 
Such strife, such tearing strife; it did beshame me; 
Then knelt, and said, " show" him this ]Dlace," — 
Here, here, I show it thee ; here, here, she knelt, 
And said f areweU to thee, and hfe and love ; 
Now, art thou man, weep tears of double brine. 
Why standest thou, as some mute block of stone, 



113 ALI80 AJVB ACNE 

Had I thy voice grown used to wail and groans, 
I'd stretch its power now. 

Aliso. What did y ou say, 

She kneeled ? 

Neptune. Here when I told her, " if you love, 
Do truly love, you must your love renounce," 
Then pointed her the way for thy escape, 
This only way, this boat and told her 
You would stay and die with her, find some pretence. 
Mistrust the danger, then she thought of death, 
Called, " gentle death," then feared you might not flee, 
Then yielded up her little interest in life, 
To live life worse than death ; then knelt, 
And begged, " say for me my farewell. 
And say I loved, O, call across the sea 
To him, she loved, she loved;" O, weep, now weep. 

Aliso. There is a time when tears deride themselves; 
When words fly off at each approach to th' matter; 
Methinks that time has come, or if there be 
Words for the herd of men, to brand their faces, 
Name their characters, these words are taken 
From the shops of life; let's call them butchers. 
Fie ! O heaven ! no, no ! did you say begged. 
Said, " say farewell ?" 

Neptune. Alas! alas! what, not a tear ? 

This tale should slake and soften up a stone. 

Aliso. No tears! the way is easy now; 
No tears; why should one weep ? you say she loved, 
Then I will venture once to see her face. [Kneels. 

Not spoiled! O no, thy butcher did not rip thy face. 
I kissed thee once, I'll kiss thee once again. 
Say did I call her wife ? a downy bed ! 
Attentive waiter ! and a flaming candlestick ! 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 113 

Not by thy side; the slaughterer 

Shall not lie with his slain [_Riiiwg.'] and yet 'twere meet 

I think, but for a moment. 

Neptune. I have bethought me, say farewell, be quick, 
Though all is fixed, I will endure derision 
From all gods of heaven for a change. 
Come, quick, while yet remains a way. 

Aliso. Thank heaven for this word; I will persuade myself 
That I am free, with all the world before me; 
That it were growing night, and not as now 
Light dawn just peeping through the eastern clouds; 
That I were weaiy, and not as now, well girded 
With a journey's strength; and that I sought 
My couch, — 

Neptune. Come quick! 

Aliso. Nay, hear me out, — where lay 
My love, and that her hand was laid upon 
My breast, and not as now cold steel 
That shivers it. [Stabs himself. 

Neptune. Stop, stop ! O woe, unspeakable ! 

Aliso. Let me not lie beside her, I fain would 
Grant myself this wish, but no, I am not worthy. 
Let me He here, here where she kneeled, 
With but my face toward hers. [Dies. 

Neptune. Now let there be a general rain of woe : 
All drench and drown ; my purposes, O woe ! 
Here, has it come to this ? an idle hoiir, 
A thought, a purpose fixed, and all have ended 
In this heap of woe. At times I thought 
'Twas merest comedy, not deep enough 
To fill the gaping mouth ; again it seemed 
A spectacle too tame to lead the eye ; 
But through it aU, soaked on this seajD 



114 ALTSO AND ACNE. 

Until it did induce this flood of woe. 

Alas ! and all's not done — the isle must fall, 

Or I must lose the simple name of character. 

I will not look upon it, yet I hear the gods; 

For them, alas I 't must be ; but I'll envelop 

In a cloud of darkness, shutting out 

From me this sight, this isle of woe, alas ! [Shrieks. 

Enter Ariel, Galiel, Thaliel, rushing in. 

Ariel. O, fearful spectacle ! the island sinks. 
They rush together, run like mad, 
Alas, the fire ! and strike and beat each other 
In their crazed fury, alas ! alas ! 
O spare them, spare them. 

Neptune. Speak quietly, tell what yon mean. 

Ariel. The island sinks; the captain, sailors, workmen, 
All, all are drowning; and up above their heads 
The air, the winds, are laughing at them. 
O, save them; hast thou not a heart ? 

Neptune. It cannot be, they shall go down. 
Look you our blighted purposes. 

Galiel. Alas ! alas ! 

Ariel. O woe ! 

Thaliel. Ah me, the day ! 

Galiel. The pretty maid ! 

Ariel. And he ! 

Thaliel. My master ! 

Galiel. 1 did forebode. 

Ariel. I saw. 

Thaliel. And I. 

Galiel. Alas, the maid is dead ! 

Ariel. O woe, my hero slain! 



ALI80 AND ACNE. 115 

Thaliel. Why does my master weep ? 

The Three. Ah me ! ah us ! we saw, we saw, we foresaw. 

Neptune. Not all your natui'es thin almost invisible 
Saw not themselves, nor their own destiny. 

The Three. O woe! O, what? 

Neptune. Thou, Ariel, that hast m}^ purpose served, 
Canst fly through air, that is thy being's substance. 
To thy rescue. Thou, my ThaHel, 
That art the moving semblance of the sea, 
Canst refuge in thy native element. 
And thou, fau' Galiel, alas ! alas ! 

Galiel. Ah me ! O woe ! I fear. 

Neptune. Had I a part, an unused corner in my woe, 
I'd save't, and give it thee. 
Unfoi'tunate of birth, thou must be wrapped 
In darkness and in drowning death. 

Ariel and Thaliel. O woe ! alas ! alas ! poor Galiel ! 

Neptune. Betake you to your elements; alone. 
My child, my spirit, here, alone, — 

Galiel. O, could I weep ! O death ! O icicle ! 
O, melt my eyes. O ! O ! 

Ariel. Farewell! farewell! [Exit. 

Thaliel. The day ! the woful day ! [Exit. 

[ Thunder. 

Neptune. Sist! down! had I the voice to give command 
Unto the moving elements ! now robe yourselves 
In gloomy night, put out your glowing flame. 
Woe is unspeakable and thunder tame. 

[ The mountain flashes. The island sinks in dark- 
ness, amid the noise of winds, luater, thunder 
and shrieks. Laughter above the scene. 



116 ALISO AND ACNE. 

O, desecration ! hark, I come, I come. 

[^Spoken from the darkness, accompanied by the 
noise of winds and waves. 

All, all is mystery, and all is fate, 

And all is woe : woe ! woe ! whose purposes 

Are set on realms of earth, their glow and glitter 

Dazzle and grow hateful to his eyes; 

Woe ! woe ! the destinies of men catch fire 

At some unguarded spot, and soon their thread 

Is burned to ashy death; woe! woe! who plays 

Along the light-breezed borders of a love, 

Soon, soon, the swelling sails are filled, the blasts 

Burst in, his bark is borne to quick unawned death ; 

Woe ! woe! to him, that in the restless play of lite. 

Uneasy dweller of its tired sea. 

Grasps floating threads of thought, and binds them fast, 

Their end is merged deep in fated death; 

Woe ! woe ! my nature light and changeable 

Is henceforth fixed, staked fast to rocky woe. 

[The first scene of the plmj emerges from the dark- 
ness. 

The Gods. Ha! ha! 

Neptune. Sist! 
'Twas yonder in the sea; beneath whose deep, 
Or in whose cradled hollow I may be. 
Henceforth I find alone one voice, one sound, 
That sings of woe ; of woe for man, whose life is played with 
By the restless gods, whose heart is toyed with 
By the greater majesty of love. [Exit. 



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